Earth Will Have An Asteroid Mini Moon For Only 53 Days
Earth is set to gain a new mini moon for a brief period, starting later this month.
Earth’s gravity will temporarily capture a newly discovered asteroid named 2024 PT5, creating a mini moon.
The 10-meter asteroid will follow a horseshoe-shaped path before resuming its orbit around the Sun.
According to researchers Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos, the asteroid should loop around Earth from September 29 until November 25, 2024.
The researchers calculated that its size, speed, and trajectory will allow it to be captured by Earth's gravitational field for 53 days.
With a magnitude of 22, it will only be visible to advanced observatories.
The study further notes that 2024 PT5 is “unlikely to be artificial.”