Scientists discovered minimoons, small celestial bodies orbiting Earth, adding a new dimension to our cosmic surroundings. These new moon partners are interesting windows into the ancient solar system’s mysteries.
As we learn more about the solar system, scientists are studying space rocks that may reveal its ancient history. In October 2023, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission found water and carbon on the 4.5-billion-year-old asteroid Bennu, essential for life.
According to MIT planetary sciences professor Richard Binzel, minimoons, minor celestial bodies whose courses are impacted by Earth and other solar system objects, may disclose the origins of our solar system. The collection of asteroids near Earth’s orbit housed these small moons, which likely travelled through the inner solar system due to planet interactions.
“Minimoons probably have had a dynamic journey in the inner solar system, being bounced around and influenced by the various planets,” Binzel says. Later, they found themselves in a roughly circular orbit around Earth.
Minimoons are easier to study than faraway asteroids like Bennu since they are closer to Earth. Minimoons offer exciting prospects for research due to their shorter travel duration and fuel requirements. Minimoons may have originated in the major asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, according to a theory.
NASA’s principal scientist for small-body exploration, Paul Abell, emphasises the importance of near-Earth asteroids, particularly minimoons, for comprehending the early solar system. Minimoons may disclose the genesis and evolution of our solar system as scientists study our cosmic history.
