Scientists Trace Potentially Hazardous Asteroid to Far Side of the Moon

 

Scientists Trace Origin of Potentially Hazardous Asteroid to Far Side of the Moon

A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery, tracing the origin of a potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroid to the far side of the moon. The asteroid, known as 2016 HO3 or Kamo'oalewa, is a rare quasi-satellite that orbits the sun but remains close to Earth.

Using simulations and modeling, the team identified the Giordano Bruno crater on the moon's far side as the likely point of origin for the asteroid. This crater, estimated to be around 4 million years old, is believed to have been formed by an impact event that dislodged a massive fragment from the lunar surface.

The asteroid, measuring between 150 and 190 feet in diameter, is thought to have been excavated from the lunar surface at high speed, potentially surviving as a singular fragment due to its size and composition. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the moon's history and the potential for life-bearing materials to be delivered to Earth via asteroids.

The study, published in Nature Astronomy, is the first to trace a potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroid to a lunar crater. The findings provide new insights into the moon's geological history and the potential for asteroid impacts to deliver materials from other celestial bodies to Earth.

The research team used a combination of simulations and modeling to narrow down the possible points of origin for the asteroid. They focused on the moon's far side, which is less well-studied than the near side, and identified the Giordano Bruno crater as a prime candidate.

The crater's age and size, as well as its location on the moon's far side, make it an ideal candidate for the asteroid's origin. The team's simulations suggest that the impact event that formed the crater would have dislodged a massive fragment from the lunar surface, which could have survived as a singular fragment due to its size and composition.

The discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the moon's history and the potential for life-bearing materials to be delivered to Earth via asteroids. The study's lead author, Yifei Jiao, noted that the findings provide new insights into the moon's geological history and the potential for asteroid impacts to deliver materials from other celestial bodies to Earth.

The research team's findings are supported by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has provided high-resolution images of the moon's surface. The orbiter's observations have helped scientists better understand the moon's geological history and the potential for asteroid impacts to shape the lunar surface.

The discovery of Kamo'oalewa's origin on the moon's far side has significant implications for future space missions. China's Tianwen-2 mission, launching in 2025, will visit the asteroid and collect samples, which could provide further insights into the moon's geological history and the potential for life-bearing materials to be delivered to Earth via asteroids.

The study's co-author, Erik Asphaug, noted that the findings provide a new perspective on the moon's history and the potential for asteroid impacts to shape the lunar surface. "This was a surprise, and many were skeptical that it could come from the moon," Asphaug said. "For 50 years, we have been studying rocks collected by astronauts on the surface of the moon, as well as hundreds of small lunar meteorites that were ejected randomly by asteroid impacts from all over the moon that ended up on Earth. Kamo'oalewa is kind of a missing link that connects the two."

The discovery of Kamo'oalewa's origin on the moon's far side highlights the importance of continued exploration and research into the moon's geological history and the potential for asteroid impacts to shape the lunar surface. As scientists continue to study the moon and its many mysteries, we may uncover even more surprises and insights into the history of our celestial neighbor.