Unraveling the Mystery: Moon Fragment Transforms into Near-Earth Asteroid

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Source: Phys.org
Unraveling the Mystery: Moon Fragment Transforms into Near-Earth Asteroid
Photo: Phys.org
TL;DR

Researchers have proposed that a recently discovered near-Earth asteroid, Kamo'oalewa, could be a fragment of the moon that was ejected during a meteorite strike. They found that a rare pathway allowed Kamo'oalewa to enter an orbit around the sun while remaining close to the orbits of the Earth and the moon. This discovery suggests that the moon is a more likely source of near-Earth asteroids than previously thought. Further studies of Kamo'oalewa could provide valuable insights into the formation of the moon and impact mechanics.

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