What is a mini-moon?
A mini-moon is an asteroid or comet that is temporarily captured by a planet’s gravity, specifically Earth, for a limited period.
Mini-moons are typically small (around 10 meters in diameter) and may not be easily visible without large telescopes.
They are classified as "temporarily captured orbiters" if they complete at least one full orbit around Earth, or "temporarily captured flybys" if they don’t.
Where do mini-moons come from?
Mini-moons originate from near-Earth objects (NEOs), which are asteroids or comets that orbit the Sun and come within 1.3 times the distance of Earth from the Sun.
They are often captured from specific groups of asteroids, like the Arjuna group, which orbit at a similar distance to Earth.
The gravitational pull of Earth can temporarily capture these small bodies as they pass by.
COMMENTS