The Curious Case of Earth's Imposter Moon

You know, for a moment there, the cosmos threw us a curveball – or what certainly looked like one. Late last year, astronomers spotted an object, officially cataloged as 2020 SO, zipping through space. Its trajectory seemed to suggest it was an asteroid, and for a little while, the idea that a natural space rock might come a bit too close for comfort stirred up some genuine chatter. It was just another reminder of the vast, unpredictable dance happening out beyond our atmosphere.

But here’s where the story takes a fascinating, almost whimsical, turn. As scientists, particularly those brilliant minds at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, took a closer look, something just didn’t add up. This wasn't your typical cosmic wanderer. Its speed, its brightness, even its general demeanor in space… it was all a little too familiar, a little too… human-made. Believe it or not, our supposed asteroid was nothing of the sort.

Instead, what we were tracking was a relic from humanity's own pioneering days in space – a rocket booster from the 1960s! Specifically, it’s believed to be the Centaur upper stage rocket from the Surveyor 2 mission, which NASA launched all the way back in September 1966. Imagine that! A piece of our own history, launched into the void over half a century ago, now making a comeback performance, like a long-lost friend returning for a visit.

So, how did they unmask this cosmic imposter? Well, for starters, Paul Chodas, the director of NASA's Center for Near-Earth Object Studies at JPL, played a key role. He pointed out that 2020 SO’s low density and relatively slow speed were dead giveaways – typical asteroids are far denser and zoom along at much higher velocities. Plus, its orbital path around the sun was eerily similar to Earth's, which isn't unheard of for space junk that has drifted away from our planet and then found its way back.

And now, for its grand finale, this vintage rocket booster is set to become our planet's temporary 'mini-moon.' Yes, you heard that right! Earth's gravity will gently capture 2020 SO, pulling it into a wide, looping orbit around us. This celestial dance is expected to begin sometime around November 2020 and last until about May 2021. It'll make its closest approach to Earth around December 1, 2020, offering a unique, if subtle, astronomical spectacle.

But don't worry, this isn't some apocalyptic scenario where a 54-year-old piece of metal is going to crash down. After its brief stint as our gravitational companion, the Centaur booster will eventually gather enough momentum to break free from Earth's embrace, resuming its lonely journey around the sun. This whole episode, however, really underscores a growing challenge for us down here on Earth: distinguishing between natural cosmic phenomena and the ever-increasing amount of space junk we've left behind. It’s a testament to both our past ambitions and a hint at the careful tracking we'll need for our future in space.