Earth has a new 'moon'.

According to the Daily Mail , Earth's new half-moon, named "2023 FW13," was discovered by experts using the Pan-STARRS telescope located atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. It is one of the few known half-moons.

Experts believe this "companion" has been near Earth since 100 BC and will continue to orbit our planet for at least another 1,500 years, until 3700 AD.

Because it is a half-moon, 2023 FW13 will continue to orbit Earth for at least another 1,500 years, until 3700 AD.

Neither 2023 FW13 nor its similar submoon, 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, pose a threat to humans.

Penumbra moons, also known as semi-satellites, typically orbit the Earth much like our natural satellite, the Moon. They are called "penumbra" because they are gravitationalally bound to the Sun rather than the Earth, unlike the natural Moon.

2023 FW13 is different from a natural moon because it orbits outside Earth's atmosphere Hill – the region around a planet where its own gravity is the dominant force attracting satellites.

Earth's Hill sphere has a radius of 1.5 million km, while the radius of 2023 FW13 relative to Earth is slightly larger, at approximately 2.57 million km.

The position of the half-moon 2023 FW13 relative to Earth and other planets in the Solar System. (Image: Tony Dunn)

That distance is equivalent to 0.18 astronomical units, so large that Earth plays virtually no role in the movement of this half-moon.

Although the exact size of 2023 FW13 has not been determined, asteroid expert Richard Binzel estimates it to be approximately 10 to 15 meters in diameter.

The orbit of 2023 FW13 around the Sun takes almost exactly the same amount of time as Earth – 365.42 days (1.0005 Earth years).

Tra Khanh (Source: Daily Mail)

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Source: https://vtc.vn/trai-dat-co-them-mat-trang-moi-ar786487.html