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Friday, November 22, 2024

Scientists Think the Moon May Contain Interstellar Objects

New research suggests that Interstellar objects (ISOs) may have hit our Moon at some point in the past

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Russell Chattaraj
Russell Chattaraj
Mechanical engineering graduate, writes about science, technology and sports, teaching physics and mathematics, also played cricket professionally and passionate about bodybuilding.

UNITED STATES: The distance between our solar system and the next nearest one is 4.3 light-years. It is called Alpha Centauri, and it is the location where the Proxima Centauri host star is orbited by at least three planets.

Consequently, finding interstellar objects is a difficult task. These cosmic bodies must not be gravitationally bound to any stars. However, recent research suggests that the Moon, which is 384,400 kilometres from Earth, may contain interstellar objects.

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Astronomers might discover the ruins of collisions with such cosmic bodies there, at the very least. New research suggests that our Moon may have been struck by interstellar objects (ISOs) at some point in the past. The concept isn’t so odd after all if we consider our natural satellite’s countless craters, which can be seen with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope. The Moon didn’t always have a tranquil history, whether or not extraterrestrial objects crashed there.

Comets and asteroids are both referred to as “interstellar objects” by astronomers. The study’s lead author, Yale University doctoral candidate Sam Cabot, offered the following explanation in a statement: “Given the number of ISOs we expect to encounter in the solar system, there are definitely a few craters that were created by extremely high-speed ISOs around the solar system, and there are probably one or two on the moon.”

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It is difficult to detect extrasolar object signs on the Moon, so astronomers have a lot of work to do. Borisov and ‘Oumuamua are the only two ISOs that have been discovered thus far. ISOs are still relatively uncommon.

Astronomers will need to use “ground truth” rather than faraway observations to ascertain whether our Moon does, in fact, have any remnants of impacts with interstellar objects.

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Also Read: Artemis 1: NASA will Attempt a Second Launch of a Rocket Around the Moon 

Author

  • Russell Chattaraj

    Mechanical engineering graduate, writes about science, technology and sports, teaching physics and mathematics, also played cricket professionally and passionate about bodybuilding.

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