Site Kingfisher

Site Kingfisher is located near Bennu’s equator in a small crater that has a radius of 13 ft (4 m). Kingfisher is surrounded by boulders, but the site itself, with a radius of 16 ft (5 m), is free of large rocks. Given Kingfisher’s geographical position on Bennu’s equatorial bulge, it is possible that the region contains material from both the northern and southern hemispheres. This site is particularly interesting because of its location in a small crater, which means it may be a relatively young feature compared to Bennu’s larger craters (such as the one in which Sandpiper is located). Younger craters generally hold fresher, minimally-altered material. Kingfisher has the strongest spectral signature for hydrated minerals among the four sites.

Date Taken: March 21, 2019

Instrument Used: OCAMS (PolyCam)

Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona

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