101955 Bennu asteroid - 3d model from OSIRIS-REx mission (march 2019)

thingiverse

The OSIRIS-REx probe orbits asteroid Bennu, a Near-Earth object as of April 2019. NASA generously shared a detailed 3D model of the asteroid, which can be accessed here: https://www.asteroidmission.org/updated-bennu-shape-model-3d-files/. I enhanced the original model to reveal sharper details, so please note that this is my personal interpretation, yet it remains remarkably close to NASA's authentic 3D model. To prepare the model for printing, I made sure it could be easily opened afterward. The two halves are held securely together by about nine neodymium magnets (10mm in diameter and 2mm thick). A small vertebra is then glued onto the "A" section. The finished model measures approximately 120-130 mm (4.2-5.1 inches) wide. To add a realistic touch, I used Spraypaint from Liquitex to paint the model, followed by a subtle wash with black oilpaint. Enjoy your new asteroid replica! Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona