World News Headlines November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling 0 There’s an asteroid following Earth, and it may be from the moon 0 0000 0 0 more There’s an asteroid following Earth, and it may be from the moon November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling now playing Transferring money from UAE abroad: what are my cheapest options November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling WIN With Nespresso This Mother’s Day November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling NBA Playoffs 2022: A Casual Fan's Guide to the Postseason November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling Best New Climbing Gear of 2022 November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling A Local Weekend Travel Guide to Austin, Texas November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling First Drive: 2022 Range Rover Ups the Luxury SUV Experience November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling Most Stylish Rain Jackets, Parkas, and Trench Coats for Men November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling EU eyes Russian oil import ban as Moscow strikes western Ukraine November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling World-class Clark Int’l Airport opens new 110,000 square-meter passenger terminal November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling PCG: Bodies of 5 children who drowned in Taal Lake found November 14, 2021 Under One Ceiling There’s an asteroid following Earth, and it may be from the moon This isn’t a normal asteroid. Planetary scientists suspect that a space rock that appears to follow Earth around the sun (because it has a very similar orbit) is likely a chunk of the moon. Importantly, the 150 to 190-foot-wide asteroid is not a threat to Earth, but it’s certainly a curiosity in our solar system’s neighborhood. In the new research, published in the science journal Communications Earth and Environment, scientists found the asteroid (named Kamo`oalewa) reflected sunlight much differently than typical asteroids. Rather, it reflected light more akin to lunar rocks. Indeed, the moon origin seemed unlikely. “We doubted ourselves to death,” Vishnu Reddy, an associate professor of lunar and planetary sciences at the University of Arizona and a coauthor of the research, said in a statement. But after a few years of observations with powerful telescopes, and new observations in 2021, the moon became the best explanation. “It’s easier to explain with the moon than other ideas,” said Ben Sharkey, a study co-author and University of Arizona planetary sciences graduate student. Astronomers discovered Kamo`oalewa in 2016 and created a visualization of its orbit, which you can watch below. As it orbits the sun, the asteroid loops around Earth each year, which is why it’s been dubbed “Earth’s constant companion.” This companion, fortunately, doesn’t come closer than within 9 million miles of Earth. That’s about 38 times farther than the moon. Importantly, near Earth objects of Kamo`oalewa’s size can potentially pose a threat to Earth. Some 50,000 years ago, an asteroid 100 to 170 feet across left a 600-foot-deep crater in Arizona. “A similar-size impact event today could destroy a city the size of Kansas City,” David Kring, an impact expert at the Lunar and Planetary Institute, told NASA in 2021. SEE ALSO: NASA’s sci-fi mission to move an asteroid is crucial for humanity In a couple weeks, NASA will launch an unprecedented mission to another asteroid, called Dimorphos, to test humanity’s ability to deflect an asteroid that’s destined to impact Earth. NASA has never, however, issued a warning for an imminent asteroid strike. Related Related posts: Is There a Simple Way to Reduce the Devastating Harm of Disasters? US warns it will not let Iran ‘slow walk’ nuclear talks Brazil judge mandates proof of vaccination for foreign visitors tags: RSS Feed World News 0000 0 0 previous Why NASA just ground a circle into this Martian rock next Cop26 guards slept in 40-person ‘dorm’ at Gleneagles despite Covid fears. Staff guarding delegates at five-star venue were asked to sleep on cots in cramped hotel lounge where they also ate meals.
