Astronomers have made an exciting discovery – a newly identified space rock named 2023 FW13, which is one of only a few known to exist in our solar system, is orbiting Earth but gravitationally tied to the sun. The asteroid was first spotted in March 2021 by researchers at the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii and was confirmed by the International Astronomical Union. Dubbed the “fake moon,” the asteroid is about 50 feet across and has been in Earth’s vicinity since approximately 100 BC. It is moving so slowly that it will not leave Earth’s orbit until around 3700 AD. Although the asteroid travels close to Earth, it will not collide with Earth, giving astronomers a unique opportunity for deep space exploratory missions, due to its relative closeness and low gravity.
But the “fake moon” is not simply a second moon; it is much different from the moon that orbits Earth. Earth has only one moon, which is approximately 2,000 miles in diameter and comes within approximately 364,000 km of Earth at its closest point. The asteroid must have a diameter of 50 feet and comes within 9 million miles of Earth. It is designated as a quasi-moon because it follows a path and speed similar to our planet’s, but its gravitational allegiance lies primarily with the sun and not with Earth. Unlike the Moon, its orbital position lies beyond the limits of Earth’s ‘Hill sphere,’ the region surrounding a celestial body where its gravity is the dominant force attracting satellites.
While some have begun to theorize that the asteroid is actually heaven, the idea is currently purely speculative. Whether or not it is heaven, the quasi-moon’s existence and longevity have been well documented. Some researchers speculate that the asteroid could be a fragment of Earth’s own moon, though more research is necessary to confirm this theory.
The discovery of this quasi-moon is exciting because it advances our understanding of space by providing us with more knowledge about objects that orbit Earth. With the asteroid’s low gravity and proximity, it could serve as a practice ground for certain deep space missions, making Earth feel more special among the planets. Excitingly, this discovery comes following other recent studies focused on the Moon, such as the finding of large amounts of water on its sunlit surface and the uncovering of a “disappearing” crater that was likely erased by asteroid activity.
In summary, the “fake moon,” also known as 2023 FW13, which has been orbiting Earth since approximately 100 BC, is not actually a moon. Instead, it is a quasi-moon with its gravitational allegiance lying primarily with the sun and not with Earth. It is not expected to collide with Earth and will continue to orbit Earth until around 3700 AD. With its low gravity and proximity, it could serve as a practice ground for certain deep space explorations, making Earth feel even more special among the planets.
