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    Mini Moon Orbiting Earth Article

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    Astronomers recently discovered a mini-moon orbiting Earth that is expected to leave Earth's orbit within a few months. The mini-moon, called 2020 CD3, is about 6 to 11 feet wide and entered Earth's orbit approximately three years ago. While in Earth's orbit, the discovery was added to the catalog of the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. Astronomers are excited by the discovery because finding small asteroids close to Earth can provide useful insights about the early solar system.

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    Mini Moon Orbiting Earth Article

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    api-302899266
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    Astronomers recently discovered a mini-moon orbiting Earth that is expected to leave Earth's orbit within a few months. The mini-moon, called 2020 CD3, is about 6 to 11 feet wide and entered Earth's orbit approximately three years ago. While in Earth's orbit, the discovery was added to the catalog of the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. Astronomers are excited by the discovery because finding small asteroids close to Earth can provide useful insights about the early solar system.

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    Astronomers recently discovered a mini-moon orbiting Earth that is expected to leave Earth's orbit within a few months. The mini-moon, called 2020 CD3, is about 6 to 11 feet wide and entered Earth's orbit approximately three years ago. While in Earth's orbit, the discovery was added to the catalog of the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. Astronomers are excited by the discovery because finding small asteroids close to Earth can provide useful insights about the early solar system.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    118 views4 pages

    Mini Moon Orbiting Earth Article

    Uploaded by

    api-302899266
    Astronomers recently discovered a mini-moon orbiting Earth that is expected to leave Earth's orbit within a few months. The mini-moon, called 2020 CD3, is about 6 to 11 feet wide and entered Earth's orbit approximately three years ago. While in Earth's orbit, the discovery was added to the catalog of the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. Astronomers are excited by the discovery because finding small asteroids close to Earth can provide useful insights about the early solar system.

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    "Mini-moon" discovered orbiting Earth, but

    won't be there for long


    By USA Today, adapted by Newsela staff on 03.09.20
    Word Count 427
    Level 710L

    Image 1. The Catalina Sky Survey Telescope at the University of Arizona College of Science where the discoverers of the mini-moon,
    Kacper Wierzchos and Theodore Pruyne, work. Photo: Catalina Sky Survey/University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory

    The moon now has some short-term company. A "mini-moon" has recently entered the Earth's
    orbit.

    The discovery was made the night of February 15. Kacper Wierzchos and Theodore Pruyne
    discovered it. Both scientists work with the Catalina Sky Survey. The program is at the University
    of Arizona College of Science. The project studies space objects near the Earth.

    Wierzchos tweeted excitedly about the "mini-moon" on February 25. He said the small rocky body
    is called 2020 CD3. Out of the nearly 1 million known asteroids, it is the second known asteroid in
    history to orbit Earth. The first was called 2006 RH120. It was also discovered by the Catalina Sky
    Survey.

    The "mini-moon" is about 6 to 11 feet wide. It entered the Earth's orbit about three years ago,
    Wierzchos said in his tweet. For comparison, the moon is about 4,317.6 miles wide, according to
    NASA, the U.S. space agency.

    This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.


    The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center studies small space bodies. It
    cataloged the asteroid on February 25. The center says the "object is temporarily bound to Earth."
    It adds that "no link to a known artificial object has been found."

    Asteroid Won't Stay In Earth's Orbit For Very Long

    Derek Buzasi is a professor of physics. He teaches at a


    university in Florida. He said he does not expect the
    refrigerator-sized asteroid to stay long. It will not be
    in Earth's orbit for longer than another month or two.
    However, he is excited about the discovery. It could
    mean big things for astronomers in the future.

    "We know this happens all the time but finding them
    is very hard," he said. "It's a reminder that something
    that size can get close to us." He added that it is worth
    spending the relatively small amount of money to find
    the objects.

    Buzasi said that getting samples of small asteroids


    close to Earth is helpful to astronomers. It is more useful than sending robotic explorers to large
    asteroids. Scientists want to study these rocky asteroids. The samples can teach scientists more
    about the early solar system.

    Sadly, though, by June, our "mini-moon" will probably be long gone.

    According to NASA, there are more than 200 known moons in our solar system. Most of them
    orbit big planets like Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn has 82 moons and Jupiter has 79 moons.

    This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.


    Quiz

    1 Read the following paragraph.

    Buzasi said that getting samples of small asteroids close to Earth is helpful to astronomers. It is
    more useful than sending robotic explorers to large asteroids. Scientists want to study these
    rocky asteroids. The samples can teach scientists more about the early solar system.

    How does this paragraph support the MAIN idea of the article?

    (A) by comparing small and large asteroids that orbit the Earth

    (B) by describing the robots that are sent to study large asteroids

    (C) by explaining why the discovery of the “mini-moon” is important

    (D) by showing what astronomers can learn by studying small asteroids

    2 Select the sentence that summarizes the article.

    (A) A “mini-moon” is expected to leave the Earth’s orbit soon.

    (B) Astronomers started a new project to study objects near the Earth.

    (C) A “mini-moon” will help NASA raise money for future space exploration.

    (D) Astronomers discovered a small asteroid that is orbiting the Earth.

    3 Why does Derek Buzasi feel excited about the discovery of the “mini-moon”?

    (A) He can teach his students about the “mini-moon.”

    (B) He can study an asteroid that is usually hard to find.

    (C) He is planning for a robotic explorer to go to the “mini-moon.”

    (D) He is spending a small amount of money to collect a sample.

    4 What happened as a result of a small asteroid entering Earth’s orbit?

    (A) The Catalina Sky Survey discovered a change in the moon’s orbit.

    (B) NASA sent a robotic explorer to study the asteroid before it left orbit.

    (C) Astronomers discovered nearly 1 million other asteroids orbiting the Earth.

    (D) The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center added it to its catalog.

    This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.


    Answer Key

    1 Read the following paragraph.

    Buzasi said that getting samples of small asteroids close to Earth is helpful to astronomers. It is
    more useful than sending robotic explorers to large asteroids. Scientists want to study these
    rocky asteroids. The samples can teach scientists more about the early solar system.

    How does this paragraph support the MAIN idea of the article?

    (A) by comparing small and large asteroids that orbit the Earth

    (B) by describing the robots that are sent to study large asteroids

    (C) by explaining why the discovery of the “mini-moon” is important

    (D) by showing what astronomers can learn by studying small asteroids

    2 Select the sentence that summarizes the article.

    (A) A “mini-moon” is expected to leave the Earth’s orbit soon.

    (B) Astronomers started a new project to study objects near the Earth.

    (C) A “mini-moon” will help NASA raise money for future space exploration.

    (D) Astronomers discovered a small asteroid that is orbiting the Earth.

    3 Why does Derek Buzasi feel excited about the discovery of the “mini-moon”?

    (A) He can teach his students about the “mini-moon.”

    (B) He can study an asteroid that is usually hard to find.

    (C) He is planning for a robotic explorer to go to the “mini-moon.”

    (D) He is spending a small amount of money to collect a sample.

    4 What happened as a result of a small asteroid entering Earth’s orbit?

    (A) The Catalina Sky Survey discovered a change in the moon’s orbit.

    (B) NASA sent a robotic explorer to study the asteroid before it left orbit.

    (C) Astronomers discovered nearly 1 million other asteroids orbiting the Earth.

    (D) The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center added it to its catalog.

    This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

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