2026 QQ8

2026 QQ8
Discovery
Discovery date20 August 2026 (initial reported obs.)
Designations
Designation
2026 QQ8
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 9 June 2026 (JD 2461200.5)
Uncertainty parameter 2
Observation arc51 days
Aphelion1.0146 AU
Perihelion0.9628 AU
0.9887 AU
Eccentricity0.02618
359.07 d (0.9831 yr)
158.82°
Inclination0.5282°
45.090°
52.287°
Earth MOID0.003762 AU
Physical characteristics
~1 m
31.37±0.34

2026 QQ8 is a near-Earth asteroid that is currently temporarily captured into an orbit around Earth. It was first reported by the Minor Planet Center (MPC) on 29 October 2026 in a Minor Planet Electronic Circular, which noted its temporary capture after performing orbital integrations. The object was discovered by astronomer Krisztián Sárneczky on 20 August 2026 from GINOP-KHK at Piszkéstető Station, Hungary. It may have been captured by Earth in April 2026. It is currently listed as a member of the Aten-class NEO population.

This naturally captured object is not expected to cause any danger to Earth and should exit by December 2026 – to continue its journey around the sun.

2026 QQ8 is predicted to come as close as 0.0038 astronomical units (AU) from Earth, or about 1.5 Lunar distances. It was also discovered that it comes close to Earth approximately every 10 years.

References

  1. 1 2 MPC staff (29 October 2026). "2026 QQ8: Temporarily Captured Object". IAU Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 5 November 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: (2026 QQ8)" (last observation: 9 October 2026; arc: 51 days (36 obs)). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 Whitt, Kelly Kizer (4 November 2026). "A new mini-moon for Earth! Meet 2026 QQ8". Retrieved 6 November 2026.
  4. ↑ "Earth has a new moon: Meet 2026 QQ8 captured by planet's powerful gravity". India Today. 5 November 2026. Retrieved 6 November 2026.