Earth’s Upcoming Mini Moon: A Brief Encounter

In the next two months, Earth will welcome a temporary companion in the form of the small asteroid, “2024 PT5”.

From 29 September to 25 November, this tiny asteroid will be captured by our planet’s gravitational pull, becoming what is known as a mini-moon.

Unlike our permanent Moon, “2024 PT5” will not complete a full orbit around Earth; it will remain for just two months before returning to the Arjuna asteroid belt, where it usually resides.

Asteroid 2024 PT5, measuring around 10 metres, was discovered earlier this year and follows a horseshoe trajectory that allows it to approach Earth at a safe distance of approximately 4.5 million kilometres.

Due to its low velocity of roughly 3 540 kilometres per hour, the asteroid’s geocentric energy will become negative, binding it temporarily to our planet.

While this celestial event is intriguing, the asteroid will likely be too dim for amateur astronomers to observe. However, professional telescopes will have the capability to study “2024 PT5”, offering valuable insights into this fleeting visitor and the dynamics of near-Earth objects.

Image Credit: Source