Astronomers of all kinds are currently fascinated by a tiny object with a crazy orbit around our world. This tiny thing is of unknown composition, and is speculated to probably be a little asteroid but maybe be a big piece of space junk. Discovered by folks at the University of Arizona’s Steward Observatory as part of the Catalina Sky Survey, this object, cataloged as 2020 CD3, is only temporary, so if you have access to a fairly large telescope – like 30” or more – now is your time to get out or get online and start pointing at this crazily moving target. It is only about 6 – 12 feet or 2 – 3.5 meters in size, and is consistent with in appearance with a carbon-rich asteroid – but like we said, a few folks are speculating this is debris of some sort, so we’re not going to rule that out. 

This object isn’t in a stable orbit, and while it mathematically looks like it’s probably been with us for 3 years, it may not be around in another 3 years, but will instead most likely depart our world and head off to explore new parts of the solar system through a fluke of orbital mechanics. This kind of an object, called a minimoon, isn’t thought to be rare – we probably have one of these random rocks orbiting our world at any given time. That said, seeing these things is hard, and happening to be looking in just the right place at just the right time and doing what is needed to see these hard-to-see objects … that’s the challenge. Our hats are off to the folks at Catalina for this cool discovery, and we look forward to learning the rock….or maybe rocket part’s … future.

For more information about this particular rock, head to:

• Gemini Telescope Images “Minimoon” Orbiting Earth — in Color! (NationalAstro.org)
• Possible new ‘minimoon’ discovered orbiting Earth (Space.com)