Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, plays a major role in shaping the environment around it and protecting inner planets, including Earth, from potential impacts.

Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, plays a major role in shaping the environment around it and protecting inner planets, including Earth, from potential impacts

The average surface temperature on Mars is approximately -60°C. This is far colder than the Earth’s average, primarily due to the planet's distance from the Sun that is mars receives about 43% of the sunlight Earth does which is not dense enough to retain much heat.

a group of planets flying through the space

an artist's rendering of a solar system with planets in the foreground

an artist's rendering of a solar system with planets in the background

Mars planet in the universe, galaxy near sun

Though Kamoʻoalewa is not a "new moon" in the traditional sense, its unusual orbit and proximity to Earth make it a fascinating object of study. Its temporary nature as a quasi-satellite of Earth, combined with its potential lunar origins, makes it an intriguing target for further exploration and research. Over time, as scientists study it more closely, Kamoʻoalewa may help unlock new secrets about the dynamic history of our solar system.

4. Celestial Mechanics: The study of Kamoʻoalewa’s quasi-satellite orbit is crucial for understanding how small objects interact with planets over long periods. These interactions can offer insights into the broader dynamics of solar system formation and evolution, as well as the gravitational relationships between planets and small bodies.

an artist's rendering of a space station in outer space

Because Kamoʻoalewa remains relatively close to Earth, it is a potential target for future space missions. Exploring such objects up close could yield valuable information about the composition of NEOs and their interactions with Earth. Moreover, missions to Kamoʻoalewa could test spacecraft technologies in preparation for longer-term missions to other asteroids or even Mars.

Kamoʻoalewa is part of the near-Earth object (NEO) population, which includes asteroids and comets that come within close proximity to Earth. Understanding its orbital behavior helps scientists study the dynamics of such objects, which is important for predicting potential asteroid impacts and developing strategies for planetary defense.

Kamoʻoalewa is part of the near-Earth object (NEO) population, which includes asteroids and comets that come within close proximity to Earth. Understanding its orbital behavior helps scientists study the dynamics of such objects, which is important for predicting potential asteroid impacts and developing strategies for planetary defense.

Kamoʻoalewa is part of the near-Earth object (NEO) population, which includes asteroids and comets that come within close proximity to Earth. Understanding its orbital behavior helps scientists study the dynamics of such objects, which is important for predicting potential asteroid impacts and developing strategies for planetary defense.

an artist's rendering of an exoplaned object in space

Another possibility is that Kamoʻoalewa is part of the broader population of near-Earth objects that originated from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter or even further out in the solar system.

an artist's rendering of a distant object in space

The most straightforward explanation is that Kamoʻoalewa is an asteroid that was captured into its quasi-satellite orbit by Earth's gravity. This type of capture is a rare but not unheard-of event in celestial mechanics. Objects like Kamoʻoalewa can be influenced by the gravitational pull of planets, leading them into temporary orbits near those planets before they eventually drift away.

Kamoʻoalewa is what astronomers call a quasi-satellite, a special type of co-orbital object.

Kamoʻoalewa was first discovered in April 2016 by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii, a facility known for its work in scanning the sky for asteroids and comets.

The exact origins of Kamoʻoalewa are still unclear, but it is believed to be either a fragment of a larger asteroid or a piece of debris from the Moon itself, perhaps knocked off during a meteorite impact.

Kamoʻoalewa has likely been in its current quasi-satellite orbit for a few hundred years, and it is expected to remain in this state for only a few more centuries.

Earth's New Moon: Kamoʻoalewa

In 2016, astronomers discovered a small object orbiting Earth, now known as 469219 Kamoʻoalewa (or simply Kamoʻoalewa), which is often referred to as Earth's "new moon" or "quasi-satellite."

Solar eclipses are rare and spectacular events caused by the precise alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth.

Solar eclipses have measurable effects on the environment:

Solar eclipses can only be seen from specific locations on Earth because the Moon’s shadow is relatively small compared to Earth’s size. For total eclipses, the path of totality is usually only a few hundred kilometers wide, and it moves across the Earth's surface as the Moon’s shadow travels. Observers outside the path of totality see either a partial eclipse or no eclipse at all.

• Eclipse seasons are periods of about 34 days that occur twice each year when the Sun is close to one of the Moon’s nodes. During these periods, the Moon and Sun align correctly to produce both solar and lunar eclipses. Solar eclipses occur during the new moon phase, while lunar eclipses occur during the full moon phase.

The dark central shadow of the Moon, where the Sun is completely blocked. Only observers within the path of the umbra experience a total eclipse.