ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

101955 Bennu

101955 Bennu is a big space rock that's flying around in space. Scientists think it may have come from the very early days of our solar system! They first found out about it in 1999 and have been studying it ever since.

Bennu is about the size of a small mountain and is shaped a bit like a spinning top. It's covered in big rocks, dust, and dirt. Scientists think it's made up of the same kinds of stuff that make up comets and asteroids.

Bennu is a special asteroid because it makes regular visits to Earth! But don't worry, it won't ever hit us. In fact, it's a great opportunity for scientists to study what asteroids are made of and how they behave.

In 2018, NASA sent a spacecraft called Osiris-REx to visit Bennu. It flew all the way there and now it's orbiting around the asteroid. The spacecraft has cameras and instruments that will take pictures and measurements of Bennu. Eventually, it will also take a sample of the asteroid and bring it back to Earth! This will help scientists learn even more about the history of our solar system and how life on Earth began.

So, 101955 Bennu is a big space rock that's flying around in space, and NASA sent a spacecraft to visit it and learn more about the early days of our solar system.