Earth has a new long-term "quasi-moon" in the form of an asteroid.

1 min read
Source: Space.com
Earth has a new long-term "quasi-moon" in the form of an asteroid.
Photo: Space.com
TL;DR Summary

Astronomers have discovered a new asteroid, 2023 FW13, that is a "quasi-moon" of Earth, meaning it orbits the sun in sync with Earth. The asteroid's orbit is so elaborate that it "sweeps out halfway to Mars and in halfway to Venus." It was first spotted on March 28 using the Pan-STARRS survey telescope and confirmed using other telescopes. Citizen astronomers have found sightings of the asteroid since 2012 and calculated that it has been in our general neighborhood since 100 B.C. and will stay until at least A.D. 3700.

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