Bennu asteroid samples point to a surprising origin involving Jupiter

The asteroid Bennu, which orbits the sun once every 1.2 years and approaches Earth every six years, was sampled by NASA's OSIRIS-REx probe in 2023. The sample, weighing around 120 grams, was delivered to ETH Zurich, where it was analyzed by Maria Schönbächler. The study revealed that Bennu has a similar isotopic fingerprint to Ryugu and CI meteorites, suggesting they all formed from the same cosmic dust reservoir. The findings contradict previous assumptions that Bennu formed in the outer solar system, instead indicating it formed near the water-ice line where material from both inner and outer regions mixed. The research suggests Jupiter played a key role in the formation of these bodies by acting as a "bridge pillar" that mixed fine dust from different regions. The material in Bennu is rich in water and organic compounds, providing insights into the early solar system and the formation of terrestrial planets. The study also highlights the potential for other asteroids to share the same isotopic signature. The analysis of Bennu's material is complete, and the results are expected to enhance our understanding of solar system formation. The Japanese sample-return mission to Mars' moon Phobos is expected to launch in October 2026, and the material will be analyzed in the future.

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