Earth A new one is set to capture Mini-Moon later this month, but its stay will be brief. According to a study by researchers Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the short AsteroidsNamed 2024 PT5It will orbit Earth for a short period, from September 29 to November 25, 2024.
This asteroid, about 10 meters wide, was discovered through the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Warning System. The study states that 2024 PT5 will be pulled towards Earth gravitational field for 56 days. “2024 PT5 will orbit Earth once before heading back into space,” researchers said. This phenomenon is known as a “temporarily captured flyby,” in which asteroids enter Earth's gravity but don't complete multiple orbits, unlike other mini-moons that remain in orbit for much longer.
Key details about 2024 PT5
This asteroid, about 10 meters wide, was discovered through the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Warning System. The study states that 2024 PT5 will be pulled towards Earth gravitational field for 56 days. “2024 PT5 will orbit Earth once before heading back into space,” researchers said. This phenomenon is known as a “temporarily captured flyby,” in which asteroids enter Earth's gravity but don't complete multiple orbits, unlike other mini-moons that remain in orbit for much longer.
Key details about 2024 PT5
- 2024 PT5 will be in Earth orbit for 56 days from September 29 to November 25, 2024.
- The asteroid will make one orbit around Earth before returning to its heliocentric (solar) path.
- Like other asteroids, 2024 PT5 follows a “horseshoe-shaped orbit” where it approaches Earth at a low velocity, making it possible for it to be temporarily captured by gravity.
- This asteroid is probably from the Arjuna group, with an orbit similar to that of the Earth, and is believed to be a natural object and not space debris.
- Earth has taken images of small moons before. In 2006, one asteroid orbited Earth for about a year, while another remained in Earth's orbit until 2020.
- 2024 PT5's next return to Earth is projected for the year 2055, which would be its current trip beyond the planet.