Scientists discovered Cruithne's orbit in 1986 using data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). They noticed a strange asteroid-like object that appeared to have a horseshoe-shaped orbit around the Earth.
Cruithne's orbit is significant because it is the first known asteroid that shares Earth's orbit around the sun. It also has a unique orbit that allows it to come relatively close to Earth every few years.
Cruithne's orbit is slightly inclined compared to Earth's orbit, and it takes about 770 years to complete one orbit around the sun. It also has a more elliptical shape, causing it to come closer to the sun and Earth at certain points in its orbit.
No, scientists have calculated that Cruithne's orbit is stable and it poses no threat of colliding with Earth. At its closest approach, it is still about 30 times the distance between the Earth and the moon.
Cruithne's orbit can be used as a slingshot for future space missions, as it can provide a gravitational assist to help spacecraft reach other destinations in the solar system. Its unique orbit also makes it a valuable object for studying the dynamics of small bodies in our solar system.