Earth Set to Capture a Temporary "Second Moon"

Get ready for a unique cosmic event this autumn – a temporary second moon for Earth. A small asteroid, known as 2024 PT5, is predicted to be captured by Earth's gravitational pull, becoming a "mini-moon" from September 29 until November 25, 2024. This event, however, will not be visible to the naked eye without professional astronomical equipment, space.com reported.

The asteroid was first identified by NASA’s ATLAS on August 7, 2024. Following further analysis and studies published in the "Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society," scientists confirmed that 2024 PT5 originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt. Objects in this belt follow orbits similar to Earth’s, occasionally coming within 2.8 million miles (4.5 million kilometers) of our planet. When an asteroid like this travels at a relatively slow speed (around 2,200 miles per hour or 3,540 kilometers per hour), Earth's gravitational field can exert enough influence to temporarily capture it.

Dr. Jennifer Millard, an astronomer, and host of the "Awesome Astronomy" podcast, explained to the BBC that 2024 PT5 will enter Earth's orbit on September 29 and is expected to exit on November 25, failing to complete an entire orbit but having its trajectory altered before moving on. This mini-moon will be approximately 32 feet (10 meters) long, insignificant compared to Earth’s primary moon, which is about 3,475 kilometers in diameter.

Upon its brief phase as Earth's mini-moon, 2024 PT5 will resume its orbit around the Sun. Previously, asteroids have been captured and dubbed mini-moons; in more rare instances, some such as the asteroid 2022 NX1 revisited Earth at different intervals. Excitingly for those who might miss it this time, scientists forecast a potential return for 2024 PT5 in 2055.

Professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos from Universidad Complutense de Madrid compared mini-moon events to temporary captures rather than full orbits. "These events are quite common," Marcos noted, mentioning that smaller asteroids offering close yet temporary rounds of Earth fascinating and photographable occasions for professional telescopes despite being out of reach for mainstream telescopic and naked-eye observations.

These mini-moons continue to highlight the busy nature of our solar system and the significance of continuous space monitoring for awareness and discovery, given that vast numbers of shortly identified objects like 2024 PT5 keep emerging jerkily in our night skies.

Earlier, SSP wrote that SpaceX's Starlink satellites pose a threat to radio astronomy.