Found the 'Fragment of the Moon' Detached Since Ancient Times [Reading Science]

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Getty Images Bank]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A study has suggested that four quasi-satellites orbiting around Earth may be fragments that once were part of the primordial Moon and were separated due to collisions.

In 2016, scientists at the University of Hawaii Observatory discovered a small asteroid named Kamo'oalewa (meaning "shaking celestial body"), measuring 165 feet (about 50.3 meters) in length. This small celestial body orbits Earth at a distance about 38 times farther than the Moon (approximately 384,000 km) at its closest approach, roughly 14.5 million km, and can be as far as 25 million km away while orbiting Earth.

Scientists analyzed the orbit of this asteroid and found that it began relatively stable trailing Earth about 100 years ago and is expected to continue orbiting Earth for several hundred years. However, the true nature of the Kamo'oalewa asteroid remained unknown because it is so small and dim that it was impossible to observe with telescopes.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, on the 11th (U.S. time), a research team from the University of Arizona announced in the international journal 'Communications Earth & Environment' that they found evidence suggesting the Kamo'oalewa asteroid could be a fragment of the Moon. Observations made during moments when sunlight illuminated the asteroid revealed that its surface is composed of cooled magma identical to that found on the lunar surface. This result contradicted previous expectations that it would be made up of minerals commonly found in asteroids.

Benjamin Shaky, the lead author of the paper, explained in an interview with The New York Times (NYT), "When we first realized this in 2019, we thought it was a mistake," adding, "But when we observed it again this spring, we confirmed that the Kamo'oalewa asteroid truly resembles a miniature Moon."

In fact, astronomers who observed the surface of the Kamo'oalewa asteroid in 2017 found numerous silicate components commonly found in rocks throughout the solar system. They also confirmed that these components are very similar to those found on the Moon. Additionally, scientists have acknowledged that the numerous marks on the lunar surface indicate countless collisions with other celestial bodies.

However, experts caution that a definitive conclusion cannot yet be drawn. It could be a coincidence. The asteroid might simply be one captured by Earth's gravity that has a composition similar to the Moon. It could also be debris from an asteroid fragmented by the combined gravity of Earth and the Moon. Around Earth, there are three other quasi-satellites orbiting at distant paths like Kamo'oalewa, and their similar orbits suggest they may have been drawn into Earth's orbit by the same event.

Hannah Sargent, an astronomy professor at the University of Central Florida, said, "(This research) is providing more help in studying the origin of the Moon," but added, "The only sure way is to send an exploration probe to verify."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.