Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Tech/Science

Earth’s ‘Second Moon’ Originated from Moon’s Giordano Bruno Crater, Study Finds

Earth has a new ‘second moon’ that has caught the attention of scientists. This second moon, known as asteroid Kamo’oalewa, has been found to originate from the moon itself, specifically from the Giordano Bruno crater on the moon’s far side.

Kamo’oalewa, also referred to as 2016 HO3, is a celestial object ranging from 130 to 330 feet (40 to 100 meters) in size, which is comparable to the dimensions of the Statue of Liberty. Discovered in 2016 by the Pan-STARRS telescope array in Hawaii, Kamo’oalewa is classified as a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) and is one of approximately 250,000 NEAs known to date.

Interestingly, Kamo’oalewa is considered a quasi-satellite of Earth, exhibiting an orbit that mimics Earth’s movements around the sun in a 1:1 resonance pattern.

The recent findings, detailed in a study published in Nature Astronomy, indicate that Kamo’oalewa’s origin can be traced back to the Giordano Bruno crater on the moon. This crater, measuring 14 miles (22 kilometers) in width, is believed to be one of the youngest craters of its size on the moon’s surface, resulting from an asteroid impact that occurred between one million and 10 million years ago.

Researchers utilized numerical simulations and supercomputers to analyze the impact event that led to the creation of Kamo’oalewa. The study involved extensive computational work to explore various scenarios.

Notably, this is not the first time the moon has been linked to Kamo’oalewa’s origins. In 2021, astronomers from the University of Arizona proposed that Kamo’oalewa could be a lunar fragment based on its unique spectral characteristics. Subsequent research supported this theory, suggesting that moon fragments resulting from recent impacts could enter orbits resembling that of Kamo’oalewa.

While the moon is marked by numerous craters caused by impacts, the ejected lunar material typically falls back to the moon’s surface. However, Kamo’oalewa presents a rare case of a fragment escaping the moon’s gravitational pull and entering Earth’s vicinity.

Looking ahead, further insights into Earth’s ‘second moon’ are anticipated. China’s upcoming mission is poised to provide additional information about this intriguing celestial object, shedding more light on its origins and characteristics.

LEAVE A RESPONSE

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *