minimoon
A minimoon, also known as a temporary moon or a captured object, is a small celestial body that temporarily orbits a planet, typically Earth, before eventually escaping its gravitational pull or colliding with it. Unlike natural satellites like the Moon, which have stable orbits, minimoons are irregular objects that enter and leave Earth’s gravitational influence over relatively short timescales, often measured in months or years.
The concept of minimoons was first proposed in the 1970s, but the first confirmed observation occurred in
Minimoons are believed to originate from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter or, in some cases,
Studying minimoons provides valuable insights into the dynamics of near-Earth space and the behavior of small
While minimoons are rare, advances in astronomical observation—particularly with telescopes like Pan-STARRS and the Catalina Sky