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Researchers at Cornell University say that what we know as the moon is in fact not the only one orbiting our planet at any given time. Smaller objects regularly inhabit the earth's orbit, usually leaving after a few months to continue on their celestial journeys.
The discovery is considered a major breakthrough for space research because scientists had been working toward visiting asteroids outside of earth's orbit for research. While these temporary moons are too small for a shuttle landing, they are prime for research from a relatively close distance.
美国康奈尔大学的研究人员称，月亮不是唯一围绕地球轨道运行的天体。其它更小一些的物体也一直有规律的运行在地球轨道上，有时它们会离开几个月，但仍然会回来继续绕地运行。在这个科学家都忙着研究地外星球的时代，这项研究被认为具有重大的意义。不过由于这些临时月亮太小，以至于太空飞船也不能在其上着陆，因此，科学家只能等它们距离地球较近时通过天文望远镜进行研究。

However, it's still to be determined whether the announcement will capture the public's attention like previously revealed new moons. Either way, it should be a decidedly more pleasant experience for all involved.
然而，像新发现地球卫星这样的消息还不知道是否会引起大众的关注，但是不管怎么说，对于所有参与这项发现的人员来说还是非常美好的一次经历。

The new paper titled "the population of natural earth satellites," from Cornell University states that these "secret moons" enter and exit the earth's orbit without notice. And scientists have confirmed at least one such temporary moon, discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona in 2006.
康奈尔大学一篇名为“天然地球卫星数量普查”最新文章披露，有很多“秘密月球”都曾悄悄地开始或结束环绕地球。其实，早在2006年，美国卡特里娜巡天系统已经发现有一颗这样的临时月亮绕地运行一年。

"Our results are consistent with the single known natural ‘Temporarily-Captured Orbiter’ 2006， a few-meter diameter object that was captured for about a year starting in June 2006," the report says."
“临时捕获卫星2006”证实了我们得出的结论，它是一颗直径仅有几米的卫星，与2006年六月被发现，持续一年。

At any given time, there should be at least one natural earth satellite of 1-meter diameter orbiting the earth," states the scientists.
科学家认为除了月亮外，在任何时候，地球都会有至少一颗直径超过1米的非人造卫星环绕左右。


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