Earth’s gravity has temporarily captured another small asteroid into its orbit. The space object, designated 2026 QQ8, is expected to travel around Earth and to remain under the planet’s gravitational influence until the end of the year.
Globalinfo.az reports that the information was released with reference to BBC publications specialising in astronomy.
The publication presented the object as a “mini Moon”:
“The asteroid, believed to be about 2 metres in diameter, is calculated to come within 568,000 kilometres of Earth at its closest. That is about 183,000 kilometres more than the average distance between Earth and the Moon.
According to astronomers’ calculations, 2026 QQ8 came under Earth’s gravitational pull in late April. It is expected to continue its temporary motion around Earth until December 2026 and then to leave the gravitational influence and return to its independent orbit around the Sun.
Experts estimate that 2026 QQ8 is not expected to pose a serious threat to Earth. Its dimensions are very small, and if it entered the atmosphere it would most likely burn up and break apart before reaching Earth’s surface.
Aliyar Khalil
Globalinfo.az
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