Astrology

Earth has temporarily captured a tiny asteroid called 2026 QQ8.

Earth's gravity has temporarily captured a small asteroid called 2026 QQ8, Space reports. The object entered an orbit around Earth in April 2026 and was first observed in August. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center announced its discovery on October 29.

The object is a temporary satellite, meaning it is held by a planet's gravity for a limited time, according to Wikipedia. Space reports that 2026 QQ8 also travels around the sun, completing that orbit in 359 days, and approaches Earth roughly once every ten years.

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Observations identified a natural asteroid#

Hungarian astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky first spotted 2026 QQ8 on August 20, IFLScience reports. Astronomers initially considered whether the object might be discarded space hardware rather than a natural rock. The Minor Planet Center later confirmed that it was natural, according to the outlet.

Follow-up observations used the Lowell Discovery Telescope and the University of Hawaii's 2.2-meter telescope, VICE reports. Those observations helped establish that the object was an asteroid rather than debris from an old rocket or satellite, according to EarthSky.

The outlets give different estimates for the asteroid's size. VICE puts its width at about 3 feet, or 1 meter, while Space reports a diameter of about 6 feet, or 2 meters. Both describe an object much smaller than Earth's permanent moon.

The asteroid follows a wide loop#

VICE describes the asteroid's path around Earth as a kidney-shaped loop. According to The CSR Journal, it entered Earth's Hill sphere, where the planet's gravity can control smaller objects' movement despite the sun's pull. That allowed Earth to capture it temporarily.

IFLScience reports that the asteroid came within 537,000 kilometers, or 334,000 miles, of Earth on August 18. Space gives a different closest distance of about 568,000 kilometers, or 353,000 miles. IFLScience says there is no collision concern.

The outlets also differ on when the temporary capture ends. IFLScience gives December 13 as the asteroid's departure date, while Space reports that it remains under Earth's gravity through December and cites modeling that points to a departure in January 2027.

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