As of 2020, the only confirmed examples have been 2006 RH 120 in Earth orbit during 20, and 2020 CD 3 in Earth orbit between 20. Other small natural objects in orbit around the Sun may enter orbit around Earth for a short amount of time, becoming temporary natural satellites. Earth trojans, such as 2010 TK 7, are NEOs that orbit the Sun (not Earth) on the same orbital path as Earth, and appear to lead or follow Earth along the same orbital path. They appear to orbit a point other than Earth itself, such as the orbital path of the NEO asteroid 3753 Cruithne. It is too distant to be a true satellite of Earth, but is the best and most stable example of a quasi-satellite, a type of near-Earth object. As it orbits the Sun, 469219 Kamoʻoalewa appears to circle around Earth as well. Ĥ69219 Kamoʻoalewa, an asteroid discovered on 27 April 2016, is possibly the most stable quasi-satellite of Earth. These have been called "second" moons of Earth. Īlthough the Moon is Earth's only natural satellite, there are a number of near-Earth objects (NEOs) with orbits that are in resonance with Earth. Since the 19th century, scientists have made genuine searches for more moons, but the possibility has also been the subject of a number of dubious non-scientific speculations as well as a number of likely hoaxes. Several candidates have been proposed, but none has been confirmed. The gray band is the orbit of the Moon.Ĭlaims of the existence of other moons of Earth-that is, of one or more natural satellites with relatively stable orbits of Earth, other than the Moon-have existed for some time.