Vatican Joins Forces with NASA to Analyze Asteroids
NASA has partnered with astronomers in Vatican City to analyze the asteroid Bennu, which poses a potential threat to Earth. With a one in 2,700 chance of impact in the 22nd century, NASA aims to better understand Bennu's orbit and behavior. Samples collected from the asteroid are being analyzed at the Vatican's Astronomical Observatory, led by Jesuit astronomer Bob Macke. Macke has developed a device called a pycnometer to study the porosity and rock type of the samples.