It is believed that we have a new neighbor in space, at least for now. The Catalina Sky Survey, a group of astronomers funded by NASA, has observed an asteroid caught in Earth's gravity, but the Center for Near-Earth Object Studies pointed out that it is leaving the orbit of our planet.
“Earth has a new temporarily captured object, or mini-Moon, called 2020 CD3. On the night of February 15, my Catalina Sky Survey colleague Teddy Pruyne and I found an object," astronomer Kacper Wierzchos wrote on Twitter. cnet.
BIG NEWS (thread 1/3). Earth has a new temporarily captured object / Possible mini-moon called 2020 CD3. On the night of Feb. 15, my Catalina Sky Survey teammate Teddy Pruyne and I found a 20th magnitude object. Here are the discovery images. pic.twitter.com/zLkXyGAkZl
- Kacper Wierzchos (@WierzchosKacper) February 26, 2020
Wierzchos has calculated that the asteroid is between 1.9 and 3.5 meters in diameter, reports Koha.net. The Minor Planet Center discovered the near-Earth object, which apparently entered our planet's orbit about three years ago.
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Earth with a second visitor, scientists discover a mini-moon
In an email confirming the cluster's discovery, CNEOS scientist Shantanu Naidu said 2020 CD3 made its closest approach to Earth on February 13 and is emerging from our planet's gravitational influence.
This is the second asteroid known to have entered Earth's orbit. The last asteroid, 2006 RH120, was also discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey and orbited the Earth for 18 months during 2006-2007.
