Earth To Get a Temporary Second Moon: What Is ‘Mini-Moon?’ How Long Will It Orbit the Home Planet? Everything To Know About Asteroid 2024 PT5
This month, Earth will have not one, but two moons. A tiny asteroid named 2024 PT5 will be Earth’s temporary second mini moon. However, this phenomenon won’t last long. It will be brief and will occur from September 29 till November 25. Here's all you need to know about it.
Earth is about to have a temporary second 'mini moon!' Earth, even though for just a brief amount of time, will have a new mini moon in the form of a tiny asteroid named 2024 PT5. NASA discovered this asteroid on August 7. It originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, where it will return after it leaves Earth’s orbit. Our gravity will pull the asteroid into Earth's orbit, but it will not stay for long before it continues its journey around the sun. Unlike the regular moon, which has been Earth’s main companion for billions of years, the asteroid 2024 PT5 will only visit Earth for two months. It will be Earth’s temporary second moon from September 29 until November 25. Earth To Get a New ‘Mini Moon’: Will It Be Visible to Naked Eyes? How Is It Connected to Mahabharata? Here’s What You Should Know About the Rare Asteroid 2024 PT5.
Is Earth Temporarily Getting a Second Moon?
Is Earth getting a mini moon? Yes, Earth will be getting a temporary second mini moon in the form of a tiny asteroid called 2024 PT5. The asteroid will orbit the home planet from September 29 until November 25 before it continues its journey through space.
What Is Earth’s Second Moon?
Earth’s new mini-Moon or hypothetical second moon will be a small asteroid 2024 PT5. NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) discovered it on August 7. According to researchers, the asteroid is about 10 metres wide. It will make a horseshoe-shaped path around Earth before the sun's gravity pulls it away. Scientists Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid mention that the asteroid is the perfect size and speed to be temporarily captured by Earth’s gravity. The asteroid will orbit around Earth for two months before it continues on its journey through space.
This is a very rare event, but it shows us how Earth comes into encounter with objects from space. The asteroid 2024 PT5 will make just one circle around Earth before it’s pulled away. This phenomenon, known as ‘temporarily captured flyby’ happens when an asteroid gets caught by Earth’s gravity but does not stay in orbit for long.
Will Earth’s Second Moon Be Visible to the Naked Eye?
The asteroid 2024 PT5 will be very small and faint. Hence it will not be visible to the naked eye or even a small telescope. Since it is only about 10 metres wide, it will be extremely hard to see Earth’s new mini moon. It will only be visible through powerful telescopes.
Have Similar Incidents Occurred Before?
Yes, similar incidents have occurred before. In 2006, an asteroid stayed in Earth’s orbit for almost a year, and another one was in Earth’s orbit for several years before leaving in 2020. These are just some examples of a larger phenomenon of how Earth sometimes pulls small asteroids from the nearby Near-Earth Object (NEO) population. Earth Has Two Moons! 2020 CD3 Orbiting Earth Since 3 Years; See Photo of Mini-Moon.
Interestingly, the asteroid originates from the Arjuna asteroid group, which is a unique cluster in our solar system. Astronomer Robert H. McNaught in 1991 gave it its name. The heroic figure Arjuna from the Hindu epic Mahabharata was what inspired Robert McNaught to give the group its name. The International Astronomical Union, later officially recognised the name. In the Mahabharata, Arjuna was known for his exemplary skills with the bow and arrow.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 19, 2024 10:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).