Earth has a new ‘minimoon’, scientists announce
'BIG NEWS,' tweets astronomer involved in discovery
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Earth has acquired a "minimoon", scientists have said.
The object has temporarily been captured into Earth's orbit and is now flying beside us around the solar system, just like our more famous and much bigger moon, astronomers announced.
It has been designated "2020 CD3" by the Minor Planet Center, part of the International Astronomical Union, a body that catalogues and names objects discovered in space.
The object was found by astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona, on 15 February. It was then observed repeatedly in the days that followed, allowing astronomers to learn more about the object.
That allowed the astronomers who found it to gather detailed images of the object as it moves around the Earth.
Examination of the object found that it appears to be between 6.2 and 11.5 feet in diameter. It is also shining with a particular brightness suggestive of carbon-rich asteroids, its discoverers said.
Though it was only newly found, the rock is thought to have been captured into Earth's orbit three years ago. That is according to orbital simulations carried out by astronomer Tony Dunn, using data from the astronomers who discovered 2020 CD3.
Official confirmation that the object existed and had been captured by Earth came on 25 February, when the Minor Planet Center designated it a "Temporarily Captured Object", and gave it its new name.
Observations and calculations indicated the object "is temporarily bound to the Earth", the centre wrote in a circular sent out to astronomers.
"No evidence of perturbations due to solar radiation pressure is seen, and no link to a known artificial object has been found. Further observations and dynamical studies are strongly encouraged.
Despite the vast number of asteroids spotted and tracked by astronomers, 2020 CD3 is only the second known one ever to orbit Earth. The first, known as 2006 RH120, was spotted by scientists at the same institution.
In 2016, an asteroid split in half over Australia and lit up the sky. Astronomers suggested that may also have been a mini-moon – and it is possible that others are still orbiting around Earth, too small and dim to have yet been found by scientists.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments