Humanity believes it has completely explored the universe with advancing technology. However, this is entirely a deception. Although humanity may have advanced significantly since the beginning, we are still mere specks of dust in the corners of the universe. The biggest example of this is the newly discovered space rock, 2023 FW13, which has been given the title of Earth’s new moon. So why can 2023 FW13 be considered a new moon? Here are the details…
It can be considered a moon even if it doesn’t reflect light!
A recent study has discovered a space rock in a close position to Earth. According to initial findings, this space rock, named as a new moon, is not like our current moon that we see every night. We can say it is more of a half-moon. In other words, it possesses some characteristics of the moon but is not a full-fledged moon.
So, what makes it deserving of the title “moon”? This space rock revolves around Earth. Its orbit encompasses the Earth, but it is gravitationally tied to the Sun. In simple terms, the new space rock orbits around the Earth in a fixed manner due to the gravitational force from the Sun.
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This unique feature of the space rock earns it the title of a “half moon.” It doesn’t reflect sunlight back to Earth like the moon, but it performs the orbital motion of a real moon. The space rock was discovered using the Pan-STARRS telescope located at the summit of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. Experts have assigned the code name 2023 FW13 to this space rock.
When we consider the dimensions of the space rock, we see that its diameter is quite small. The space rock, 2023 FW13, has a diameter ranging from 10 to 15 meters. In comparison, our moon has a diameter of 3,474 kilometers. In other words, the moon is 230,000 times larger than the space rock.
So, will this space rock collide with Earth? Actually, we provided the answer to this question in the news. The answer is no. The space rock is revolving due to the gravitational force exerted on it by the Sun. Additionally, its orbit around Earth is defined. In short, it poses no threat whatsoever. Lastly, even if there were a possibility of it colliding with Earth, we mentioned that its diameter is between 10 and 15 meters. If it were to enter the atmosphere to collide with Earth, it would burn up before making significant progress.
What do you think about the new moon? Don’t forget to share your opinions in the comments…
