News Astronomy

Bennu and Ryugu look like spinning tops and scientists want to know why

Spacecraft visiting both asteroids may provide clues to the space rocks’ formation

asteroids bennu and ryugu

SPINNING TOP  Both Bennu (left) and Ryugu (right) have a diamond shape that is common for asteroids of their size, but scientists can’t yet explain how the shape forms.

From left: GSFC/NASA, Univ. of Arizona; JAXA, Univ. of Tokyo, Kochi Univ., Rikkyo Univ., Nagoya Univ., Chiba Institute of Technology, Meiji Univ., Univ. of Aizu, AIST

By Jennifer Leman

- More than 2 years ago

WASHINGTON — New up-close images of Bennu have confirmed that the asteroid is shaped like a spinning top.