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Earth's 'Quasi-Moon' Kamo’oalewa Linked to Lunar Crater

Recent studies suggest the near-Earth asteroid Kamo’oalewa originated from the moon's Giordano Bruno crater, offering new insights into its lunar heritage.

  • Kamo’oalewa, a near-Earth asteroid, is likely a fragment from the moon, specifically the Giordano Bruno crater.
  • The asteroid was likely ejected from the moon by an impact occurring between 1 million and 10 million years ago.
  • Kamo’oalewa's orbit synchronizes with Earth, and it exhibits rapid rotation, characteristics that puzzled scientists until now.
  • Future missions, including China's Tianwen-2 in 2025, aim to sample Kamo’oalewa to confirm its origins and study its properties.
  • The discovery emphasizes the importance of planetary defense and understanding the dynamics of near-Earth objects.
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