Tag Archives: minimoons

Astronomers have long been fascinated by the idea that Earth could harbor small, temporary satellites, known as minimoons, that briefly orbit the planet before escaping back into space. A recent article by Space.com reveals that there could be at least 6.5 minimoons orbiting Earth at any given time. These objects, often pieces of the Moon itself, represent a fascinating glimpse …

Half a dozen fragments of the moon may briefly orbit Earth at any given time, before moving on to circle the sun, new research suggests — but the minimoons’ small size and quick pace make them challenging to spot. When objects collide with the moon, they send up a shower of material, some of which manages to escape into space. …