Z | T | 50 

In 2013, researchers published a shape model of asteroid Bennu based on years of observations from Puerto Rico’s Arecibo Observatory. Their model depicted a rough diamond shape. Five years later, the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has reached the asteroid, and data obtained from spacecraft’s cameras corroborate those ground-based telescopic observations of Bennu. 

The original model closely predicted the asteroid’s actual shape, with Bennu’s diameter, rotation rate, inclination and overall shape presented almost exactly as projected! This video shows the new shape model created using data from OSIRIS-REx’s approach to the asteroid.

One outlier from the predicted shape model is the size of the large boulder near Bennu’s south pole. The ground-based shape model calculated it to be at least 33 feet (10 meters) in height. Preliminary calculations show that the boulder is closer to 164 feet (50 meters) in height, with a width of approximately 180 feet (55 meters).

Also during the approach phase, OSIRIS-REx revealed water locked inside the clays that make up Bennu. The presence of hydrated minerals across the asteroid confirms that Bennu, a remnant from early in the formation of the solar system, is an excellent specimen for the OSIRIS-REx mission to study. Get all the details about this discovery HERE.

Learn more about OSIRIS-REx’s journey at nasa.gov/osirisrex. 

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Discover new music and share it with the world via Instagram Stories 📲

Let’s get chatting! There are 8 questions, tag your answers with A1, A2 etc and we’ll share the best on https://t.co/6epgjIVdbM 💬 #HootChat

— Hootsuite (@hootsuite) July 21, 2016

How Can A Car’s Only Emission Be Water?

Could hydrogen fuel help clean up road transport and address air quality challenges?

Keep reading

Are Swedish House Mafia back?

Join my group to post your stuff https://t.me/joinchat/HJUtahfBdbYTYLfmUK8RBA

via - https://twitter.com/Skrjifen/status/1067441320581652481

What’s the best bug spray to use in the age of Zika? The pros weigh in here.

Photographed by Mario Testino, Vogue, July 2013

Service Issue

Some users are currently experiencing problems accessing Twitter. We are aware of the issue and are working towards a resolution.

🚨This is a Red Alert for net neutrality 🚨

Last December, the FCC voted to to kill net neutrality. If we do not take action, this will kill the free and open internet as we know it. The internet needs you—all of you—to make sure your voices are heard NOW.

We need all hands on deck for this one. It may be our last chance. If you’re feeling under-informed and overwhelmed about why net neutrality is so incredibly important, we have this handy guide just for you.

Here’s what you can do to save the internet:

In mid-May, the Senate will vote on a resolution to overrule the FCC using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). We only need one more vote in the Senate to win. Write or call your Senators or Representatives. You can also text BATTLE to 384-387 to get more information on how to write to your reps. You can do this, Tumblr.

Join us and dozens of your other favorite companies like Etsy, Vimeo, Reddit, and GitHub to raise awareness with the Red Alert campaign being run by Battle for the Net. Just add this small widget to your Tumblr to let your followers know how they can contact their reps. It’s as easy as copying and pasting the small line of code right into the customize theme page on the web.

This is important. This matters. It’s up to you to help.