A new mini-moon is about to join Earth’s orbit, making it only the third to have been detected by astronomers.
After its global orbit, expected to last a few months or even years, the mini-moon will be cast back out into space.
Only two have previously been spotted circling Earth. The first confirmed sighting was of 2006 RH120, in orbit between 2006 and 2007, followed by 2020 CD3, spotted earlier this year and in orbit between 2018 and 2020.
The new mini-moon has been named 2020 SO and is heading towards Earth’s orbit on a path far slower and lower than those of its forebears. It was tracked by the Pan-STARRS1 telescope at the Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii on September 17.
San Francisco-based physics teacher Tony Dunn tweeted that 2020 SO was likely to arrive in October and also demonstrated a simulation of where it will begin orbiting.
There is a school of thought, however, that 2020 SO may not be a mini-moon at all.
Its unusually low velocity has led scientists to assert that it could actually be space junk - a man-made substance. Dr Paul Chodas, manager of the Centre for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), has suggested it may be the remnants of the Surveyor 2 Centaur stage rocket body, launched in 1966.
"I suspect this newly discovered object 2020 SO to be an old rocket booster because it is following an orbit about the Sun that is extremely similar to Earth's, nearly circular, in the same plane, and only slightly farther away the Sun at its farthest point." he told CNN.
Rockets are frequently lost in space, another scientist said.
"You have to keep tracking these things, or you can just sort of lose sight of them really easily," space archaeologist Alice Gorman told ScienceAlert. "It's quite astonishing the number of things that have gone missing."
Ms Gorman supported Dr Chodas’ suggestion, flagging up the relatively slow speed of the body. "The velocity seems to be a big one,” she said. “What I'm seeing is that it's just moving too slowly, which reflects its initial velocity. That's essentially a big giveaway."
The link between 2020 SO and Centaur stage has also been made because their respective size is very similar: 2020 SO is thought to measure between 6.5 -14 metres across (21 and 46 ft) while Centaur stage is 12.5m (41.6 ft).
Astronomers will have the opportunity to carry out detailed observation in early December and again in February next year when 2020 SO is due to make pass near to Earth, although neither arc will be low enough for the body to enter Earth’s atmosphere.
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Specs
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The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
The specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
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More on animal trafficking
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
7.05pm: Handicap Dh 185,000 2,000m
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,600m
8.15pm: Handicap Dh 190,000 1,400m
8.50pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap Dh 175,000 1,200m
10pm: Handicap Dh 165,000 1,600m
The Breadwinner
Director: Nora Twomey
Starring: Saara Chaudry, Soma Chhaya, Laara Sadiq
Three stars
SPECS
Nissan 370z Nismo
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
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Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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