Recently, astronomers made a fascinating discovery of a small asteroid orbiting Earth, which has been likened to a “minimoon” due to its size and temporary nature as a satellite. Named 2026 QQ8, this asteroid is expected to soon break free from Earth’s gravitational influence and return to its orbit around the Sun, continuing its journey through the solar system.
Reports from Live Science indicate that Hungarian researcher Krisztián Sárneczky first detected the asteroid in August of this year. Subsequently, the Minor Planet Center, an organization that operates under the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and is responsible for documenting and confirming new celestial bodies in the solar system, officially released a report on October 29.
The asteroid 2026 QQ8 is projected to orbit Earth until January 2027, which means it will remain in proximity until after the New Year festivities. Following that time, it will completely escape the gravitational pull of our planet and resume its travel through the cosmos.
According to data from the IAU, 2026 QQ8 has a diameter of approximately 6 feet (about 2 meters), making it relatively small in size. Its orbital period around the Sun is about 359 days, nearly equivalent to a full year on Earth. The asteroid approaches Earth roughly once every ten years, currently maintaining an orbit that puts it about 1.5 times the average distance from the Earth to the Moon.
2026 QQ8 falls into the category of Aten asteroids, which can sometimes cross Earth’s orbit. These bodies have a semi-major axis smaller than that of Earth’s orbit, indicating they typically travel in trajectories that bring them closer to the Sun than our planet. Larger Aten asteroids are considered a significant risk due to their potential to remain hidden by the Sun’s glare, only to later approach Earth at high speeds. However, given its small size, 2026 QQ8 poses no threat to the planet. Should it come too close, it would likely disintegrate upon entering Earth’s atmosphere.
This is not the first instance of humanity discovering a “minimoon” orbiting Earth. The first such celestial body, designated 1991 VG, was identified by astronomers in 1991 and measured approximately 30 feet (10 meters) across.
Current astronomical observations lead scientists to believe that the frequency of Earth capturing these “minimoons” is relatively high, suggesting that at any given moment, there is likely to be at least one of these bodies orbiting our planet. Most of them tend to remain within Earth’s gravitational grasp for less than a year, although some may linger for several decades.
Advancements in telescope technology promise to aid astronomers in identifying these “minimoons” as they enter or exit Earth’s orbit. Notably, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory located in Chile, which commenced operations in 2025, is projected to detect millions of previously unknown celestial objects moving through space over a ten-year mission duration.
In addition to Earth’s temporary satellites, asteroids themselves may also possess small moons, akin to accompanying “sidekicks.” For example, an asteroid named Dinkinesh was observed passing by NASA’s Lucy spacecraft on November 1, 2023. Scientists expressed their surprise to find that Dinkinesh has a small moon in tow.
This ongoing exploration unveils the complex dynamics of celestial bodies within our solar system, reinforcing the notion that our understanding of space continues to evolve as technology advances and new discoveries come to light.