Moon Chunk Breaks Off and Orbits Earth, New Study Suggests

Astronomers have discovered more evidence suggesting that the asteroid Kamo'oalewa is a chunk of the moon that was ejected into orbit near Earth. The asteroid's composition is similar to the moon's, and its unusual orbit as a "quasi-satellite" of Earth led scientists to investigate further. By simulating asteroid impacts on the moon, researchers found that some rocks could end up in near-Earth orbits. This discovery could provide insights into hazardous near-Earth asteroids and help determine the conditions and timing of the impact that launched the lunar fragment into its current orbit.