in February 2020, Astronomers from the Catalina Sky Survey announced theyâd found a second natural satellite orbiting the Earth. It looks like our planet and its long-standing partner Luna have decided to explore polyamory.
The newcomer is a small asteroid that was apparently snagged in the Earthâs orbit where it now exists as a temporary âmini-moon.â Scientists discovered the new moon last week but wanted to confirm that it wasnât an artificial satellite or random space junk. It may still turn out that the satellite is artificial but all indications so far indicate itâs the real deal.
The Catalina team revealed the information in a tweet featuring an accompanying video showing Earthâs new follower making its way around us.Â
In a tweet, one said: “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”
According to the astronomers, the Earthâs new companion has an erratic orbit but thereâs little cause for concern: itâs only about the size of a compact car.
These events are rare, but this isnât the first time Earthâs managed to attract another moon. Scientists discovered another one 14 years ago and itâs logical to assume such events have occurred for as long as the Earthâs been around.
Earthâs dalliances with other moons are also temporary. Within a matter of months, the new moon will break free of the Earthâs grip and bid us all a fond farewell as it hurtles off into space to continue boldly going wherever asteroids go.
Aside from the cool factor of knowing weâre currently living on a planet with two moons (Martians: you arenât so special anymore now), the occurrence also represents an opportunity for scientists to study asteroids and how they interact with planet-sized bodies up close.
Also, it was revealed by a computer model that attempted to figure why the side of the moon that faces Earth is relatively low and flat and the one that faces away has a much thicker crust. The model suggests that there was once a “companion moon” that collided with the far side of our current moon.
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