Parker News and Curiosities

Imagine a skyscraper-sized space rock, silently traveling through the Solar System, guarding secrets from the very beginning of life. Now, imagine that this rock has a path that, one day, might cross Earth's. This is Asteroid Bennu , a fascinating object that became the focus of one of NASA's most ambitious space missions, OSIRIS-REx, which recently brought invaluable samples back to us. But what makes Bennu so special? Why has humanity invested so much to visit it? And what is the real "threat" it poses to our planet? Get ready to unravel the mysteries of this cosmic giant that's under our watchful eye! Bennu: A Cosmic "Time Capsule" and a Potential Threat Asteroid (101955) Bennu is a B-type asteroid, meaning it's rich in carbon and organic material. It's about 500 meters (about 1,640 feet) in diameter—the equivalent of five football fields!—and orbits the Sun. Its history, however, is what makes it a true scientific treasure: Ancient Age: Be...

  What’s Inside the Moon? For decades, scientists debated the Moon's internal structure. Now, thanks to a combination of Apollo mission data and modern measurements, we know that the Moon has: A solid inner core: Primarily composed of iron, with a density of about 7,822 kg/m³. A fluid outer core: With a radius of approximately 362 km. This structure is strikingly similar to Earth's, which also has a solid inner core and a liquid outer core. How Was This Discovery Made? Researchers used seismic data, measurements of the Moon's deformation, and variations in its distance from Earth to create a detailed model of its internal structure. This model not only revealed the core's composition but also an active process in the lunar mantle, where denser materials sink and lighter materials rise—a phenomenon known as convection . Why Does This Matter? Understanding Lunar and Solar System History The discovery sheds light on how the Moon formed and evolved. It’s believed that ...