NASA's Lunar Orbiter captures a "mysterious" object akin to Oumuamua
The NASA-owned Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) snapped an image of a "mysterious" object skimming by the Moon at a speed of over 3 miles per second. Snapping this was no small feat, yet the LRO managed it precisely. This photograph allowed NASA to identify the elongated object that draws parallels with Oumuamua.
For 15 years, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has been circling the Moon. Its mission encompasses mapping the lunar surface, pinpointing potential landing zones, and seeking out notable objects. One such find was documented in a photo last month. NASA disclosed that between March 4th and 5th, 2024, the LRO and the Moon orbiter Danuri, a project of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute moving in tandem orbits, had a close encounter near the Moon.
NASA delves into the "mysterious" object
"Owing to the high relative velocities between the two spacecraft (about 4475 mph or 7200 km/h), the LRO's operations team at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, had to time it just right to direct the LROC at the perfect moment and place to get a glimpse of Danuri, the Republic of Korea's pioneering Moon spacecraft," conveyed NASA in a press statement.
Utilizing a narrow-angle camera, a component of the LRO's camera system dubbed "LROC," Danuri was captured in a frame. This is South Korea's inaugural Moon orbiter, launched in 2022. Its mission involves carrying scientific instruments and technology demonstrations. Danuri aims to explore lunar resources, including helium-3, silicon, and aluminium, and chart the Moon to facilitate the selection of optimal landing sites in the future.
NASA revealed that due to the swift motions of the LRO and Danuri at the moment of capture, Danuri appeared tenfold larger and somewhat blurred. This effect may fire up the imaginations of space enthusiasts. Particularly since in the image shared by NASA, Danuri resembles Oumuamua, a mysterious, elongated object that traversed our Solar System in 2017. The arrival of this interstellar visitor ignited a flurry of excitement, including among those who speculate about visits from extraterrestrial civilizations.
