What is a recent discovery that may change our understanding of near-Earth space?
A) New asteroid belt near Mars
B) Permanent new moon of Earth
C) Previously undetected minimoons orbiting Earth
D) A new ring around the Moon
✅ Correct Answer: C) Previously undetected minimoons orbiting Earth
✅ Explanation:
Recent studies have led to the discovery of small, temporary natural satellites, called “minimoons,” that orbit Earth for short periods. These are:
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Much smaller than our Moon
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Not permanent — they enter and leave Earth’s orbit due to gravitational interactions
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Often formed from lunar debris, like the object 2024 PT5, which likely resulted from impact collisions on the Moon
🧠Why It’s Important:
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Changes our understanding of Earth’s immediate space environment
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Opens new research into how celestial bodies interact with Earth’s gravity
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May lead to sample return missions and space resource exploration, like space mining

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