A New Mini-Moon Is Being Captured by Planet Earth

A small asteroid is currently in orbit around our planet and may become a permanent companion. If the asteroid does become a mini-moon, it would be the second one in orbit around Earth. The first one, 2006 RH120, was discovered in 2006, but was lost in 2007.

The new mini-moon, which has been named 2020 CD3, was discovered on February 15 by the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona. It is about 1.2 kilometers in diameter and is currently orbiting Earth at a distance of about 40,000 kilometers.

2020 CD3 is not expected to impact Earth, but it is possible that it could become a permanent companion. If it does, it would be the first new moon to be captured by Earth in over a century.

Mini-moons are small asteroids that are captured by the gravity of a planet. They are typically only a few kilometers in diameter and are often temporary companions. However, some mini-moons can become permanent companions, orbiting their host planet for centuries or even millennia.

2020 CD3 is still under observation, and it is not yet clear whether it will become a permanent companion of Earth. However, the discovery of this new mini-moon is a reminder that our planet is a dynamic system, and that even small objects can have a significant impact on its history.

Here are some additional facts about mini-moons:

• Mini-moons are typically captured by the gravity of a planet when they pass close to it.
• Mini-moons can range in size from a few meters to several kilometers in diameter.
• Mini-moons are often temporary companions, but some can become permanent companions.
• The first mini-moon to be discovered was Phobos, which orbits Mars.
• There are currently about 50 known mini-moons in our solar system.