ScienceLive ScienceScientists discover a new minimoon orbiting Earth: Meet 2026 QQ8
A tiny asteroid called 2026 QQ8 has been orbiting Earth since April and will stick around until January 2027 before drifting off.
A tiny asteroid entered Earth's orbit in April and is expected to leave in January. Meet the minimoon 2026 QQ8.
Earth picked up a temporary mini companion in April when a small asteroid was pulled into a short-term orbit around our planet.
The rock, named 2026 QQ8, is only about 2 metres across and orbits at roughly 1.5 times the distance of the moon, posing no threat.
Astronomers now believe Earth likely has at least one minimoon at any given time, with most staying less than a year before moving on.
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