Earth has a new mini-moon: Tiny asteroid 2026 QQ8 was captured in April, spotted in August and will leave by early 2027

NewsScience NewsEarth has a new mini-moon: a 1-metre space rock named 2026 QQ8 was pulled into orbit around our planet in April, was spotted in August, and will stay until about December before drifting off on its own path in 2027 Earth has a new mini-moon: a 1-metre space rock named 2026 QQ8 was pulled into orbit around our planet in April, was spotted in August, and will stay until about December before drifting off on its own path in 2027 TOI Science Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 07, 2026, 16:11 IST Earth has acquired a temporary companion in space, but it will not stay for long.

A small space rock named 2026 QQ8 was pulled into Earth's gravitational grip in April 2026, remained unnoticed for months and was first spotted in August. Now confirmed as a natural object, the roughly 1–2-metre-wide asteroid is expected to remain temporarily bound to our planet until December before escaping and continuing its journey around the Sun in 2027.The discovery was reported by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center on October 29, after astronomers had gathered enough observations to establish the object's identity and trajectory.

Hungarian astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky first observed it on August 19–20, according to reports by Space.com. Initially, however, scientists were unsure whether the faint object was a natural space rock or human-made debris from an old rocket or satellite.Follow-up observations helped resolve that uncertainty.

Astronomers used the University of Hawaii's 2.2-metre telescope and the Lowell Discovery Telescope to study the object. The additional measurements, including how it responded to solar radiation pressure, helped rule out an artificial origin.

The Minor Planet Center subsequently classified it as a natural object, most likely a small asteroid, and described it as a temporarily captured object.How Earth captured its new mini-moon Although 2026 QQ8 has only recently been recognised as a mini-moon, its path suggests that it has approached Earth before.

According to orbital analysis reported by EarthSky, the object comes relatively close to our planet approximately once every decade. It passed near Earth in 1965, but did not come close enough to be captured by its gravity.

Its next predicted approach in 2058 is also not expected to result in another temporary capture.Scientists have calculated that 2026 QQ8 takes approximately 359 days to complete one orbit around the Sun, slightly shorter than an Earth year.

Its current temporary stay is therefore an interruption in its usual journey around the star, rather than the beginning of a permanent relationship with our planet.The object is expected to remain under Earth's gravitational influence through December.

It should then break away, most likely around the end of the year or in early January 2027, and continue along its own solar orbit.Earth may have more than one temporary moon The TOI Science Desk stands as an inquisitive team of journalists, ceaselessly delving into the realms of discovery to curate a captivating collection of news, features, and articles from the vast and ever-evolving world of science for the readers of The Times of India.

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