 Gravitational capture

Gravitational capture is a process by which an object, such as a moon or a small celestial body (e.g., asteroid or comet), becomes gravitationally bound to a larger celestial body (like a planet or star) without requiring a significant collision. This typically occurs when the smaller object passes close enough to the larger body that the gravitational forces decelerate it sufficiently, allowing it to be "captured" into orbit around the larger body.