Earth has captured a new, temporary companion: the asteroid 2026 QQ8, a small natural object currently orbiting our planet.
Astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky first detected the object in August at the Piszkéstető Observatory, according to vtm.zive.cz.
While initial observations could not rule out that the object was a piece of space debris, such as a spent rocket stage, subsequent data from the University of Hawaii’s 2.2-meter telescope and the Lowell Discovery Telescope in Arizona confirmed it is a natural asteroid, vtm.zive.cz reported.
The object, which measures roughly one to two meters in diameter, entered Earth’s gravitational influence in late April, according to reports from Aktualne.cz.
Gravitational Capture by Earth
The asteroid was drawn into Earth’s orbit after entering the planet’s Hill sphere, a region where a planet’s gravity dominates over the Sun’s, vtm.zive.cz noted.
Unlike the Moon, which maintains a stable, near-circular path, 2026 QQ8 follows a highly irregular and elongated trajectory. The asteroid is expected to complete approximately one and a half orbits around Earth before departing, vtm.zive.cz reported.
“Výpočty dráhy ukazují, že tento objekt je dočasně vázán k Zemi. Nebylo nalezeno žádné spojení se známým umělým objektem,” confirmed the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union, as cited by Centrum.cz.
Distinguishing Minimoons from Quasisatellites
Astronomers categorize these temporary companions based on their orbital behavior. A true "minimoon," such as the asteroid 2020 CD3 that orbited Earth for several years, must complete at least one full revolution around the planet, vtm.zive.cz explained.
Other objects, like 2024 PT5, which passed near Earth in late 2024, are classified as temporarily captured flybys because they do not complete a full orbit. Quasisatellites, such as Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3), represent a third category; they are not gravitationally bound to Earth but instead orbit the Sun in a 1:1 resonance, creating the illusion of circling our planet, according to vtm.zive.cz and Centrum.cz.
Departure in December
According to calculations cited by Aktualne.cz, 2026 QQ8 is expected to break free from Earth’s gravitational pull on the perelomu let 2026 a 2027.
The asteroid poses no collision risk to Earth. Astronomers have tracked its path back to 1965, when it passed nearby without being captured, and they anticipate another close approach in 2058 that will also result in no capture, Centrum.cz reported.
Will 2026 QQ8 Hit Earth?
Will 2026 QQ8 hit Earth? Even if it were to enter the atmosphere, its small size of one to two meters would likely cause it to burn up completely before reaching the surface, according to Aktualne.cz.
Captures are not rare, though they are difficult to detect due to the small size of the objects. Research published in the journal Icarus suggests Earth may host up to six temporary minimoons at any given time, though many are too small or distant to be observed, vtm.zive.cz reported.
Astronomers confirmed its natural origin by using large telescopes to analyze its movement and trajectory, which showed no correlation with known artificial space debris, according to Aktualne.cz.