Scientists have found a "fake moon" that existed for thousands of years: it was not what everyone thought it was
The universe hides many more mysteries, and it is not surprising that interesting nuances sometimes arise with the unraveling. In early 2023, scientists discovered a quasi-luna or "fake moon" orbiting our planet.
In fact, 2023 FW13 is simply an asteroid that actually orbits the Sun. However, the asteroid has a special orbit that has kept it close to Earth since time immemorial - since about 100 B.C. The details were told by the publication Space.
In reality, 2023 FW13 is a relatively small asteroid. It reaches a width of only 10-15 m, which is comparable to the size of an ordinary city five-story building. The asteroid caused resonance because of its unusual orbital trajectory. Astronomers have voiced predictions that the celestial body will be in the vicinity of the Earth for another 1500 years.
2023 FW13 has an orbit that makes it a permanent satellite of the Earth, as does 2016 HO3 in the image.
Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech
This is not the first time scientists have spotted a probable quasisatellite, but FW13 is the longest previously discovered.
FW13 has no gravitational connection to Earth, but it stays so close to its surface that, according to preliminary estimates, scientists plan to benefit from it when launching space missions.
There is a hypothesis that the "fake moon" could become something like a "testing ground" for flights into deep space. Astronauts would need only a few months to fly to FW13 from Earth.
The search for a "second moon" has been going on for decades. In part, scientists' hopes are due to discoveries of new satellites orbiting Saturn and Jupiter.
Earlier OBOZREVATEL also told that trapped "interstellar invaders" may be circling the Earth.
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