Understanding the Threat of Asteroid Bennu

Today, the detection of an asteroid like Bennu on a collision course with Earth would indeed present a significant concern. While theoretical solutions exist—such as diverting the asteroid—the practical challenges are immense.

At present, we are not equipped to handle such a situation. It might be too late by the time we realize the danger, and our current technology does not allow for the rapid deployment of necessary mechanisms. Presently, we would only detect the asteroid when amateur astronomers with private telescopes can spot it.

Is Bennu on the Top of Our Worry List?

Fortunately, it’s not on the top 100 list of things to worry about right now. The record of asteroid impacts on Earth suggests that we have not seen any asteroid-related fatalities throughout recorded history. Thus, we should direct our focus towards more immediate concerns such as natural disasters like volcanoes.

Potential Mitigation Strategies

Despite the current lack of immediate danger, it’s crucial to explore potential mitigation strategies. As the Wikipedia article on asteroid impact avoidance highlights, various counter-measures are being developed. However, these measures are still in their infancy and require significant advancement.

The best approach to prevent an asteroid impact is to divert it by hitting it. Yet, this is far from simple. It depends on the asteroid's size, its distance from Earth, the accuracy of its orbit prediction, and the rapidity with which we can mobilize rockets and other projectiles.

Consequences and Responses

If the asteroid is small enough, local evacuation and mitigation strategies could suffice. However, a large asteroid on a collision course could potentially cause widespread damage, especially if it hits an ocean or a densely populated urban area. The exact impact point is uncertain until much closer to the predicted collision date. Therefore, immediate response strategies would have to be contingent on the precise location of impact.

Given that Bennu is a rubble pile, redirection might be infeasible. Instead, efforts could be directed towards "blowing it up" to turn it into smaller fragments. Even if this results in a swarm of smaller pieces, none of them might pose major threats to Earth. This method would be an educated guess, but our technological capabilities may have advanced by the time such an event occurs.

In conclusion, while the prospect of an asteroid collision with Earth is alarming, it is not a pressing concern for at least a hundred years. Continuous research and preparedness are essential to better understand and mitigate potential asteroid threats. It is also important to maintain a balanced perspective, focusing on real and present dangers.