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.