Kamo'oalewa, Earth's quasi-satellite, was previously believed to be a constituent of the asteroid belt. However, recent studies suggest that it is more likely to be debris ejected from the lunar surface following an asteroid impact.
Kamo'oalewa maintains a synchronized orbit with Earth around the sun, and its unusually rapid rotation distinguishes it from typical asteroids. In 2021, researchers discovered that the composition of Kamo'oalewa closely resembles lunar surface rocks, leading to speculation about its lunar origin.
A recent investigation led by Patrick Michel, a senior researcher at France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), has established a connection between Kamo'oalewa and the Giordano Bruno crater on the moon. By employing computer models to simulate impact events, considering factors such as size, velocity distribution, and dynamics of the ejected material, the team demonstrated that some of the ejected fragments could attain a 1:1 orbital resonance with Earth. This finding aligns with the orbital characteristics observed in Kamo'oalewa.
The research conducted by Michel and his team provides further substantiation for the hypothesis that Kamo'oalewa originated from the moon.
Earth's Quasi-Satellite Kamo'oalewa Likely Originated from Lunar Impact
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