China's Spacecraft Snaps First-Ever Close-Up Image Of Earth's Rare 'Minimoon'
China's Tianwen-2 space probe has captured the first-ever close-up images of Kamoʻoalewa, a rare quasi-moon orbiting Earth.
📍 How it ended
China's Tianwen-2 space probe rendezvoused with the quasi-moon Kamoʻoalewa. The spacecraft captured and returned the first close-up images of the celestial body.
This mission marked the smallest celestial body yet visited by a spacecraft.
Epilogue added 39d ago, after coverage quieted.
Where it stands
China's Tianwen-2 space probe has successfully rendezvoused with Kamoʻoalewa, a celestial body described as a quasi-moon or 'minimoon' near Earth. The mission has resulted in the release of the first close-up images of the object.
Coverage from outlets including the New York Times, WIRED, and Space emphasizes that the probe has broken a record for reaching the smallest celestial body ever visited by a spacecraft. Other reports from Sky & Telescope and Open Magazine highlight the arrival at the object and the revelation of this 'second moon.' Future developments involve the analysis of the images returned by Tianwen-2 after its arrival at the quasi-moon.
Synthesized by Newsylist from the headlines below under a strict no-invention contract. ✓ fact-checked: all claims supported by sources Updated 39d ago.
Answered
What is the name of the spacecraft involved?
The spacecraft is China's Tianwen-2 space probe.
What is the name of the object being imaged?
The object is called Kamoʻoalewa, also referred to as a quasi-moon or minimoon.
Why is this mission considered record-breaking?
According to IFLScience, the mission reached the smallest celestial body yet visited by a spacecraft.
Coverage (8)
- China’s Tianwen-2 Space Probe Has Rendezvoused With Earth’s Quasi-Moon WIRED · 43d ago
- Tianwen 2 Arrives at Quasi-Moon Kamoʻoalewa, Returns Images Sky & Telescope · 43d ago
- China’s Tianwen-2 Reveals Mysterious ‘Second Moon’ Near Earth Open Magazine · 43d ago
- A Chinese Spacecraft Captures First Image of Quasi-Moon NYT > Science · 43d ago
- First look at Earth’s second moon New York Post · 45d ago
- China releases 1st photo of Earth's elusive 'quasi-moon' Kamo'oalewa Space · 45d ago
- Chinese Tianwen-2 Breaks Record Reaching Smallest Celestial Body Yet Visited By A Spacecraft IFLScience · 45d ago
- China's Spacecraft Snaps First-Ever Close-Up Image Of Earth's Rare 'Minimoon' NDTV · 45d ago broke it first
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