Earth is regularly orbited by at least six 'minimoons,' which are small fragments formed by asteroid impacts on the moon's surface. These 'minimoons,' typically around six feet in diameter, consist of moon debris known as 'lunar ejecta.' They can move into stable orbits, remaining near the Earth for extended periods before breaking away or colliding. While most temporarily bound objects (TBOs) eventually escape into the sun's gravitational influence, new chunks of lunar material take their place. This challenges the earlier belief that most TBOs originate from the asteroid belt.
Researchers have found that Earth frequently has at least six 'minimoons' in orbit, which are small pieces of the former moon formed by asteroid impacts.
These lunar ejecta, typically around six feet in diameter, can enter stable orbits around Earth, remaining for years before eventually escaping gravitational pull.
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