scientists finetune odds bennu hitting earth

Middle-school student engaged in exploring the solar system in their classroom using the Infiniscope “Where are the small worlds?” activity. The Inspark Science Network is a joint initiative of ASU’s Center for Education Through eXploration (ETX) and adaptive learning pioneer Smart Sparrow, to promote active learning and teaching science through exploration. Not just another internet portal, Infiniscope is part of the Inspark Science Network, a digital platform that empowers a global community of educators to collaborate, create, customize and share next-generation exploratory activities. “It is the embodiment of education through exploration.” “Infiniscope makes the vastness of space and space exploration inviting, accessible and interactive for educators and learners of all ages,” said deputy principal investigator Ariel Anbar. The activities provide not only feedback, but also pathways to meet the needs of individual learners. The key features of Infiniscope activities such as “Where are the small worlds?” are that they use both NASA data and subject-matter experts for adaptive learning. Participants can use the online experience to collect data on small worlds, observe the motion of different worlds to determine their location in the solar system, and launch probes to discover “astrocaches” hidden throughout the solar system. This interactive activity is a simulated exploration of the solar system in search of asteroids and other objects. The first major Infiniscope activity, titled “Where are the small worlds?” will be featured throughout the week at LPSC. “Infiniscope provides a virtual space to connect users with cutting-edge space exploration experiences that inspire curiosity, excitement, engagement and confidence,” said Lindy Elkins-Tanton, director of ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration and Infiniscope principal investigator. The first component of this project, now titled “ Infiniscope,” will be showcased at this week’s Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas. Less than a year ago, Arizona State University received a $10.18 million grant from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Education Community to develop next-generation digital learning experiences that incorporate NASA science content. The samples are due here in 2023.MaInfiniscope makes NASA science content accessible, interactive for all ages

The spacecraft is headed back to Earth on a long, roundabout loop after collecting samples from the large, spinning rubble pile of an asteroid, considered one of the two most hazardous known asteroids in our solar system. “So I think that overall, the situation has improved,” he told reporters. While the odds of a strike have risen from 1-in-2,700 to 1-in-1,750 over the next century or two, scientists now have a much better idea of Bennu’s path thanks to NASA’s Osiris-Rex spacecraft, according to Farnocchia. “We shouldn’t be worried about it too much,” said Davide Farnocchia, a scientist with NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, who served as the study’s lead author.

The bad news is that the space rock has a slightly greater chance of clobbering Earth than previously thought.īut don’t be alarmed: Scientists reported Wednesday that the odds are still quite low that Bennu will hit us in the next century. (AP) - The good news is that scientists have a better handle on asteroid Bennu’s whereabouts for the next 200 years.

Scientists finetune odds bennu hitting earth