China's Spacecraft Snaps First-Ever Close-Up Image Of Earth's Rare 'Minimoon'
China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has captured the first close-up image of Kamo'oalewa, a rare 'minimoon' orbiting Earth.
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The brief
China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft has successfully reached Kamo'oalewa, a celestial body described as a 'quasi-moon' or 'minimoon' of Earth. The mission has resulted in the release of the first-ever close-up photograph of the object.
Coverage from Space, NDTV, and the New York Post emphasizes the rarity of the object and the milestone of capturing its first image. IFLScience reports that Tianwen-2 has set a record by visiting the smallest celestial body ever reached by a spacecraft.
Future developments will depend on the data and imagery processed from the Tianwen-2 mission's encounter with the elusive object.
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Quick answers
What is the name of the object visited?
The celestial body is called Kamo'oalewa.
Which spacecraft captured the images?
The images were captured by China's Tianwen-2.
What record was broken during this mission?
Tianwen-2 reached the smallest celestial body yet visited by a spacecraft.
Coverage (4)
- First look at Earth’s second moon New York Post · 9h ago
- China releases 1st photo of Earth's elusive 'quasi-moon' Kamo'oalewa Space · 9h ago
- Chinese Tianwen-2 Breaks Record Reaching Smallest Celestial Body Yet Visited By A Spacecraft IFLScience · 9h ago
- China's Spacecraft Snaps First-Ever Close-Up Image Of Earth's Rare 'Minimoon' NDTV · 9h ago broke it first
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