Astronomers have observed a small object orbiting Earth- named 2020 CD3 – which they have dubbed a “mini-moon” or the planet’s “second moon”.
However, it is actually an asteroid, about the size of a car with diameter about 1.9-3.5 m. Such an asteroid is called a Temporarily Captured Object (TCO)
Unlike Earth’s permanent Moon, the mini-moon is temporary whichwill eventually break free of Earth’s orbit and go off on its own way.
Explanation: When an asteroid’s orbit crosses Earth’s orbit, it can sometimes be captured into the latter orbit. This is what happened with 2020 CD3. The orbits of such objects is unstable
Did You know? The previously discovered 2006 RH120 orbited Earth for some time in 2006 before it escaped in 2007
Once caught in Earth’s orbit, such objects usually remain for a few years before they break free and go into independent orbit around the Sun.
