J002E3

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/j002e3

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is J002E3?Potential lunar ejectum or terrestrial fragment
2. What is the object designation?J002E3
3. What is the estimated diameter?Approximately 100 meters
4. Why is J002E3 called a space snowball?Scientists say it looks like a big dusty snowball because it is covered in dark, dusty material. Its low reflectivity makes it look very dark.
5. How did J002E3 get close to Earth?J002E3 was pulled into Earth's gravity and even orbited our planet for a short time. This temporary capture happened because of the combined pull of Earth, the Moon, and the Sun.

Near-Earth Object (NEO): An asteroid or comet whose orbit brings it into proximity with Earth's orbit, posing potential impact risks.
Lunar Ejectum: Material ejected from the Moon's surface due to hypervelocity impact events.
Albedo: The measure of the diffuse reflection of solar radiation, indicating how reflective a surface is.
Temporary Satellite Capture: The phenomenon where a celestial body is gravitationally captured by a planet for a limited duration before escaping.