The Earth has a new quasi-moon
Miscellaneous / / June 02, 2023
In fact, it has been with us for thousands of years.
Astronomers from the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii have discovered a new near-Earth object 2023 FW13. Initially, attention was paid to it because of the stability of the orbit.
As it turned out, this is another so-called quasi-satellite. That is, it is in orbital resonance with our planet and remains near it for many years. And even a complete revolution around the Sun makes for the same time.
Compared to the Moon, the object is very tiny - about the size of a five-story building (about 15 meters). And it is much further, it passes within 14 million kilometers from our planet.
Scientists believe that they have discovered the most ancient quasi-satellite of the Earth. According to their calculations, he became a “neighbor” around 100 BC. And it will remain so until about 3700.
Despite the fact that 2023 FW13 is considered a near-Earth object, it does not pose any threat to us. If its trajectory ever changes, we will know about it several decades before a possible collision, the astronomers concluded.
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