Earth's Secret Companion: The Quasi-Moon That Has Been Following Us for Millennia

Astronomers have discovered an asteroid, 2023 FW13, that orbits the sun in a similar time frame as the Earth does, making it a "quasi-moon" or "quasi-satellite." The asteroid is only slightly influenced by Earth's gravitational pull and has been following our planet's orbit since at least 100 BCE. Despite hovering relatively close to Earth, it is unlikely to collide with our planet. Astronomical objects like this could act as "stepping stones" to Mars, and a space mission to reach such asteroids could serve as a shakedown cruise before committing to a longer mission to Mars.