Get Ready for Earth’s New “Mini-Moon” in September
A small “mini-moon” is expected to join Earth’s orbit for around two months beginning this September.
Earth’s moon may get a new friend this month, if only briefly. Scientists have reportedly discovered what they believe to be an asteroid that will soon become a “mini-moon” as it enters Earth’s orbit. The mini-moon, named 2024 PT5, is only about 10 meters across, making it very difficult to see from Earth. It is expected to stick around in orbit for around two months before returning to the Arjuna asteroid belt.
According to research lead author Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, the mini-moon will require professional telescopes to observe due to its small size. The mini-moon is expected to be visible from Sept. 29 to Nov. 25 and is classified as a “temporary captured flyby”. This type of mini-moon does not complete a full revolution around Earth.
Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos published their research on the mini-moon in The Research Notes of the AAS. They stated that Earth can regularly capture asteroids from the Near-Earth object population and pull them into orbit, forming mini-moons.
This isn’t the first time a mini-moon has visited Earth’s orbit. Another mini-moon briefly stopped by in 2020. It’s a rare and fascinating phenomenon that astronomers are eager to study further.
Get ready to witness this celestial event as Earth welcomes its new “mini-moon” in September!
Sources: TIME, Space.com, The Research Notes of the AAS, Space.com