earth Briefly Had Two Moons, Captured โAsteroid โฃBecame Temporary Companion
London, โUK – For a short period in 2023, Earth โhad two moons.โ A small asteroid, designated 2023 FW13, was temporarily captured by our planet’s gravity, effectively becoming a “mini-moon” โคalongside our familiar lunar โฃcompanion.While the phenomenonโฃ isn’t โฃunprecedented, the recent observation adn tracking of โ2023 FW13 have sparked renewed interest in the dynamics โof near-earth objectsโข and the complex gravitational interactions within our solar system.
The asteroid, estimated to โbeโฃ between 6.2 and 18.3 feet in diameter, entered Earth’s orbit around September 2023 and orbited our planet for several weeks before escapingโฃ backโข into its own orbit around โขthe sun. This event highlights the constant streamโข of space rocks that come close to Earth, and the possibility -โค though rare – of temporary captures. Astronomers โbeleive 2023 FW13 โis not a threat to Earth, but its brief companionship offers a unique prospect to study the formation and behaviour of small celestial bodies.
The discovery was made by astronomers at โthe Pan-STARRS observatoryโ in Hawaii, who tracked โฃthe asteroid’s unusual trajectory. “It was a realy captivatingโข object,” explained Paul Chodas, manager of โNASA’s Center for โNear Earth Object โStudies, to Metro. โฃ”It’s very commonโ for small asteroids to be captured temporarily by planets,but it’s not so commonโข to actually get โa good look at them.”
While 2023 FW13โ hasโ since departed, the event underscores the dynamic nature of our solar โขsystem. Earth has hosted other temporary moons in the โpast, and scientists predict more will be discovered as observational capabilities improve. These mini-moons provideโ valuableโ insights into the early solar system and the processes that shaped the planets weโค no today.โฃ
For more stories like this, check our news page.
What humans would look like if we โฃevolved on other planets,according to AI
How to seeโค the ‘once in a lifetime double comet’ this week
This unexplained glow could unlock the universe’sโ biggest secret