The asteroid 2020 XL5

Question : Astronomers have recently(February 2022) discovered a captive asteroid shadowing Earth in its orbit. The asteroid, known as __ .
a. 2020 XL5
b. 2019 XL4
c. 2018 XL3
d. 2017 XL2
Ans. a.
Related facts —

  • Astronomers have recently(February 2022) discovered a captive asteroid shadowing Earth in its orbit.
  • The asteroid, known as 2020XL5.
  • Astronomers have confirmed that it is the existence of the second known Earth Trojan asteroid and found that it is much bigger than the first.
  • An Earth Trojan is an asteroid that follows the same path around the Sun as Earth does, either ahead of or behind Earth in its orbit.

Reference:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/02/science/astronomy-asteroid-trojan.html