2020 CD₃

2020 CD3 (also 2020CD3 or CD3 for short) is a tiny near-Earth asteroid (or minimoon) that ordinarily orbits the Sun but makes close approaches to the Earth–Moon system, in which it can temporarily enter Earth orbit through temporary satellite capture (TSC). It was discovered at the Mount Lemmon Observatory by astronomers Theodore Pruyne and Kacper Wierzchoś on 15 February 2020, as part of the Mount Lemmon Survey or Catalina Sky Survey. The asteroid's discovery was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 25 February 2020, after subsequent observations confirmed that it was orbiting Earth.It is the second temporary satellite of Earth discovered in situ, after 2006 RH₁₂₀, which was discovered in 2006. Based on its nominal trajectory, 2020 CD3 was captured by Earth around 2016–2017, and escaped Earth's gravitational sphere of influence around 7 May 2020. 2020 CD3 will make another close pass to Earth in March 2044, though it will most likely not be captured by Earth due to the greater approach distance.
2020 CD3 has an absolute magnitude around 32, indicating that it is very small in size. Assuming that 2020 CD3 has a low albedo characteristic of dark, carbonaceous C-type asteroids, its diameter is probably around 1.9–3.5 metres (6–11 ft). 2020 CD3 is classified as an Arjuna asteroid, a subtype of small Earth-crossing Apollo asteroids that have Earth-like orbits.
Category:Asteroids
Category:Temporary Satellite
Category:Near Earth Object
Category:Apollo
Category:Potentially Hazardous
Category:Geoasteroid
Category:Inner Solar System Object
Category:Arjuna Group
Category:Unnamed Objects
Category:Unnamed Minor Planets
Category:Numbered Minor Planets
Category:Numbered Objects