These may be captured asteroids, similar to 5261 Eureka, a Martian trojan asteroid.

As it happens, afternoon is when any part of the earth is facing the right way to capture misguided asteroids.

"Well, those moons are both bigger than the pair of wasted little captured asteroids we've been living with."

Undoubtedly captured asteroids, and completely irregular in shape, the largest was only thirty kilometres across.

It had two moons, both frozen rocks, captured asteroids, neither more than a few kilometers in diameter.

Based on their similarity, one hypothesis is that both moons may be captured main-belt asteroids.

Additional examples of small, temporarily captured asteroids are predicted.

Several large gas giants have captured asteroids at their Lagrange points in front and behind their orbits.

It is much less likely to capture asteroids or wandering comets than are Jupiter or the Sun.

"To cut down the hazard of fire, he suggests we capture small carbonaceous asteroids and release their nitrogen."