Nov 15, 2021 19:00:00

The possibility that the near-Earth asteroid 'Kamoorewa' is a 'fragment of the moon' has emerged.

A research team

at the University of Arizona has shown that the near-Earth asteroid 'Kamoʻoalewa ', which has an orbit approaching the Earth, may have been a fragment that jumped out of the Moon long ago.

Lunar-like silicate material forms the Earth quasi-satellite (469219) 2016 HO3 Kamoʻoalewa | Communications Earth & Environment
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00303-7

Near-Earth Asteroid Might be a Lost Fragment of the Moon | University of Arizona News
https://news.arizona.edu/story/near-earth-asteroid-might-be-lost-fragment-moon

'Kamoorewa' is a celestial body with an orbital period almost equal to that of the earth, which was discovered in 2016. It draws a trajectory that seems to vibrate when observed from the earth. It was named. Observations of Camooarewa have continued since 2016, and in 2017 it was confirmed from the pattern of light reflected by Camooarewa that it was 'an asteroid, not an artificial object.'

The identity of celestial bodies that orbit the earth like the 'second moon' is revealed --GIGAZINE

In this study as well, the pattern of light reflected by Camooarewa was observed using the 'Large Binocular Telescope (LBT)' as in the above study. Observations have shown that the pattern of light reflected by Camooarewa does not match that of known near-Earth asteroids, but matches the pattern of 'moon rocks' brought back by the Apollo program. The results suggest that the camouflage may be derived from the moon, 'the research team said.

Benjamin Sharkey, a member of the research team, said, 'We finished our survey in the spring of 2021 and came to the conclusion that'it's true.' It's easier to explain the observations than it is. '

According to the University of Arizona, Camooarewa can only be observed for a few weeks in April each year. The research team plans to observe Camoo Arewa in April 2022 to clarify the details. In addition, China has announced plans to send an unmanned spacecraft to collect samples around Kamooarewa, and future research is drawing attention.

ZHENGHE-A MISSION TO A NEAR-EARTH ASTEROID AND A MAIN BELT COMET REPL.
(PDF file) https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2019/pdf/1045.pdf