Get ready! Earth’s second temporary moon, “Asteroid 2024 PT5”

Scientists from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid have revealed that from September 29, 2024, our planet will have one more moon, an asteroid called “2024 PT5” which will become Earth’s natural moon for a short period of about 2 months.

“Asteroid 2024 PT5” It was tracked by scientists using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, a NASA-funded asteroid tracking system based in Sutherland, South Africa.

Carlos Marcos, professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and head of the research team. Said that ……

“The object that will visit Earth this time is an asteroid from the Arjuna belt, which is a belt of rocky asteroids that orbit Earth. The objects in the asteroid belt are part of a group of near-Earth objects, such as asteroids and comets.”

for Asteroid 2024 PT5 It has a diameter of about 11 meters, a diameter of about 3,474 kilometers, and an orbital path close enough to Earth that it is captured by Earth’s gravity. September 29 – November 25, 2024 During this time, 2024 PT5 will temporarily become a moon of Earth for about 56 days, following a horseshoe-like orbit before the asteroid escapes Earth’s gravitational pull and returns to its original orbit around the Sun.

“Moon satellite” According to the international definition of astronomy, “A solid astronomical object orbiting a planet, dwarf planet, or asteroid.”

This is not the first time that Earth has a temporary moon. Since records began, Earth has attracted at least five asteroids, including asteroid 2006 RH120, which is about 2-3 meters in size and orbited Earth at a distance of 1.74 million kilometers between July 2006 and July 2007.

Although many people are eagerly awaiting the new moon, the asteroid is only 27.6 magnitude due to its small size. It requires an 8-meter telescope to be viewed all night, making it difficult for those interested to see it on their own.

Data – Reference images

– space.com (Earth will get another moon this month  — but not for long)

– cbsnews.com (U.S. Earth will get a second “mini-moon” for 2 months this year)