In a rare and fascinating astronomical event, Earth has gained a temporary “mini-moon.” Asteroid 2024 PT5, a space rock roughly 33 feet (10 meters) in diameter, has been captured by Earth’s gravity and will remain in orbit for about two months, from September 29 to November 25, 2024.
Earth has a new ‘mini-moon’! 🤏🌖
Asteroid 2024 PT5 has been ‘catching up’ with us for years. It recently got close enough to begin interacting with Earth’s gravity, leading to a short #MiniMoon phase from now until late November during which it will be bound to our planet. pic.twitter.com/v6FWoG67An---Advertisement---— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) September 24, 2024
Discovered by NASA’s ATLAS
The asteroid was first detected on August 7, 2024, by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, a region of space filled with rocks that follow orbits similar to Earth’s. While this mini-moon will orbit our planet, it won’t complete a full revolution. Instead, Earth’s gravity will alter its course before it eventually continues its journey through the solar system.
Not Visible to the Naked Eye
Despite the excitement this event has generated among space enthusiasts, 2024 PT5 will remain out of sight for most of us. Its small size and composition of dull rock make it too faint to be seen without advanced astronomical equipment. Even amateur telescopes and binoculars will have difficulty spotting it.
A Rare Yet Recurring Phenomenon
Mini-moons like this are not unheard of, although they are rare. Previous occurrences have been recorded, including asteroid 2022 NX1, which orbited Earth twice—once in 1981 and again in 2022. This shows how dynamic our solar system is and how new discoveries continually unfold.
2024 PT5 to Return in 2055
For those who miss seeing this mini-moon, there’s no need to worry. Asteroid 2024 PT5 is expected to return in 2055, giving astronomers another chance to study it and deepen our understanding of near-Earth objects.
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