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We report on our detailed characterization of Earth's second known temporarynatural satellite, or minimoon, asteroid 2020 CD3. An artificial origin can beruled out based on its area-to-mass ratio and broadband photometry, whichsuggest that it is a silicate asteroid belonging to the S or V complex inasteroid taxonomy. The discovery of 2020 CD3 allows for the first time acomparison between known minimoons and theoretical models of their expectedphysical and dynamical properties. The estimated diameter of 1.2+0.4-0.2 m andgeocentric capture approximately a decade after the first known minimoon, 2006RH120, are in agreement with theoretical predictions. The capture duration of2020 CD3 of at least 2.7 yr is unexpectedly long compared to the simulationaverage, but it is in agreement with simulated minimoons that have close lunarencounters, providing additional support for the orbital models. 2020 CD3'satypical rotation period, significantly longer than theoretical predictions,suggests that our understanding of meter-scale asteroids needs revision. Morediscoveries and a detailed characterization of the population can be expectedwith the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time.

Establishing Earth's Minimoon Population through Characterization of Asteroid 2020 CD$_3$