Join the Cosmic Exploration!

Mark your calendars! From October 7 to 9, 2025, the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, will host a groundbreaking workshop titled 'Bennu and Ryugu: Samples from the Early Solar System.' This hybrid event is poised to ignite excitement among scientists and space enthusiasts alike.

Explore the Mysteries of Asteroids!

This workshop boasts an impressive lineup of both invited and contributed presentations, focusing on the historic samples collected from the carbon-rich asteroids Bennu and Ryugu. These missions, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2, have redefined our knowledge by delivering the first samples from these celestial objects, opening a treasure trove of scientific inquiry.

What the Samples Revealed!

Recent analyses reveal astonishing similarities between the mineral compositions of Bennu and Ryugu. Both set of samples closely resemble CI carbonaceous chondrites found in Earth’s meteorite collections, and contain abundant hydrated silicates, carbonates, magnetite, and sulfides. This is evidence of significant aqueous processes on their parent bodies, hinting at the complex history of water in our early solar system.

Why Attend?

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with leading scientists from both missions, as they unravel the origins of these asteroids and their implications for understanding our solar system's formation. The workshop will offer rich discussions and insights that are sure to inform future asteroidal sample return missions.

Get Involved!

Curious minds will find more details and registration information at the official workshop page. Join us to delve into the origins of life and the universe!