For a brief period, Earth gained an intriguing celestial companion - which earned its name as 'mini moon'. This bus-sized asteroid named 2024 PT5, about 37 feet (11 meters) long, was temporarily caught by Earth's gravity around September 29 and will start drifting apart after November. Although its small size and dim brightness rendered it invisible to the naked eye, its unique journey has fascinated astronomers and space enthusiasts alike.
NASA says that it is not technically a 'mini moon' because it will never be fully captured by Earth's gravity.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 was first detected on August 7 this year by a NASA-funded asteroid detection system. Scientists at the Complutense University of Madrid spotted the asteroid using a powerful telescope in Sutherland, South Africa, as part of the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).
This celestial object originates from the Arjuna asteroid group - a collection of ancient debris orbiting near the Sun. Some experts speculate that 2024 PT5 might even be a fragment of Earth's Moon, dislodged during an ancient collision and now returning for a fleeting visit.
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The asteroid's proximity to Earth during its stay was about 3.7 million kilometers. Interestingly, it will make a close pass to our planet in January 2025, says NASA.
"Mini moons" are small celestial objects like asteroids or comets temporarily captured by Earth's gravity. Unlike our permanent Moon, these visitors often come and go, orbiting Earth for weeks or months before continuing their journey through space.
2024 PT5's short-lived orbit was a product of precise celestial dynamics. Its small size, comparable to a standard bus, and faint visibility made it detectable only through professional-grade telescopes.
NASA has confirmed that asteroid 2024 PT5 poses no threat to Earth. After November 25, the asteroid will continue its journey through the cosmos, vanishing from view until it makes another close approach in 2055.
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(Image: NASA)