For just the second time ever, astronomers may have detected a natural object orbiting the Earth alongside the moon. This so-called 'minimoon' was reportedly spotted by researchers at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory. Scientifically known as a 'temporarily captured object,' the curious interloper measures approximately six to 12 feet in diameter and is believed to have been circling our planet for the last three years.
Although the suspected natural nature of the minimoon still needs to be ultimately confirmed, if it is indeed a rocky body and not a piece of space junk, '2020 CD3,' as it has come to be known, would be just the second temporarily captured object ever found with the first being discovered back in 2006. As its scientific designation suggests, the interstellar visitor's proverbial misadventure being caught by the Earth's gravity will soon come to an end as astronomers say will likely escape our orbit this coming April.
