Earth gains temporary mini-moon as asteroid 2026 QQ8 enters orbit
The 1 to 2-metre-wide space rock was captured by Earth's gravity in April and will depart by early 2027.
A small space rock named 2026 QQ8 has become a temporary companion to Earth after being pulled into the planet's orbit in April 2026, according to the Times of India.
The asteroid, which is roughly 1 to 2 metres wide, was first spotted by Hungarian astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky on August 19–20.
Scientists initially investigated if the faint object was an artificial piece of satellite or rocket wreckage, but follow-up studies using the Lowell Discovery Telescope and the University of Hawaii's 2.2-metre telescope confirmed it is a natural object.
The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center reported the discovery on October 29 after astronomers established the object's trajectory.
The asteroid is expected to remain bound to Earth until December before it drifts away on its own path around the Sun in early 2027.
At its closest, the object will be about 568,000 kilometres from Earth, which is approximately one-and-a-half times the average distance to the Moon, meaning it poses no impact threat.