Earth captures its second ‘mini-moon’ — Asteroid 2020 CD3

Earth captures its second ‘mini-moon’ — Asteroid 2020 CD3

Astronomers working at the Catalina Sky Survey, University of Arizona have discovered a possible mini-moon orbiting the Earth, now cataloged by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as 2020 CD3. 2020 CD3 flew past Earth at a distance of just 0.12 LD / 0.00031…

Research suggests fireball over Australia was Earth’s minimoon

Research suggests fireball over Australia was Earth’s minimoon

A new study suggests that fireball that exploded over Australia in 2016 might have been Earth's 'minimoon.' If true, this would be the second observation of a minimoon fireball ever. Objects gravitationally captured by the Earth – Moon system are…