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The Second Moon Will Disappear from Earth’s Orbit. PHOTO/DAILY
NEW YORK – A mini moon the size of a bus is in its final day in Earth orbit and will soon disappear, but is expected to reappear in 2055.
As reported by The Sun, the moon is actually an asteroid known as 2024 PTS. The 10-meter-wide space body appeared in Earth orbit on September 29.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stated that the presence of the second moon does not pose a danger to Earth.
The reason is, its size is much smaller than the actual Moon, which is 3,474 kilometers wide.
“This mini moon is very interesting because of its size. “These objects are very faint and we can only see them through reflected light,” said Barbara Castanheira Endl, Associate Professor of Physics at Baylor University in Texas.
According to him, it is possible that an asteroid the size of a dishwasher is orbiting Earth someday and we are not aware of it.
As is known, according to research published this week, a bus-sized asteroid will orbit Earth after being pulled by the planet’s gravity.
The asteroid is 10 meters long compared to the Moon’s actual diameter of 3,474 kilometers.
It is expected to orbit Earth for almost two months from September 29 to November 25 next year.
“The object that will be visited (Earth) is the asteroid Arjuna, which is a space rock,” said professor at a university in Madrid, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos as the main author of the study, as reported by the Guardian.
He explained that the asteroid is relatively close to Earth at a distance of around 4.5 million kilometers.
According to the research team, the mini moon phenomenon occurred in 1981 and 2022.
(wbs)
The Second Moon Will Disappear from Earth’s Orbit
NEW YORK – In a cosmic twist that’d make even the most skeptical astrologer raise an eyebrow, it appears we’ve been graced with a mini moon—the size of a bus, no less. Yes, the very same celestial phenomenon that proves the universe has a sense of humor. This mini marvel, known as asteroid 2024 PTS, will soon bid farewell to Earth orbit, only to return in 2055—mark your calendars, folks!
As per our pals over at The Sun (the only paper that thinks weather forecasts are merely polite suggestions), this miniature moon first graced our skies on September 29. Now, turns out NASA, the world’s go-to source for space drama, has declared that this astronomical buddy doesn’t pose any threat to our little blue planet. “Don’t panic!” they basically said. “It’s just a bus-sized asteroid—what’s the worst that could happen?” You know, aside from a zombie apocalypse or a Kardashian planet invasion—now THAT would be something!
Let’s break it down scientifically, shall we? The size of this mini moon—it’s about 10 meters wide, or roughly the same size as a school bus, if that helps paint the mental picture while you’re munching on your cornflakes. For comparison, our actual moon, the big ball of cheese in the sky, measures a whopping 3,474 kilometers in diameter. So, you see, there’s no need to panic. I mean, unless you’re really terrified of being squished by a very, very angry bus. And with traffic in some cities, that could happen quite frequently!
Barbara Castanheira Endl, an Associate Professor of Physics at Baylor University, was quoted saying something profound about how such mini moons are “very faint” and they only become visible through reflected light. So, it’s like trying to spot a celebrity in a dimly lit bar—you know they’re there, but good luck making eye contact! She even went so far as to say that there could be an asteroid the size of a dishwasher orbiting Earth without us even noticing. Honestly, that’s like finding out your mate’s been hiding a dishwasher under their bed for the last decade. What kind of cosmic joke is that?
According to the latest research—ironically published just as we were all turning our gaze skyward—this bus-sized asteroid is predicted to orbit Earth for nearly two months, rolling on in from September 29 until November 25 next year. Wouldn’t you love to have a pet asteroid? “Yes, officer, that rock is definitely my emotional support asteroid.” What a conversation starter!
Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, who seems to have taken on the mantle of the universe’s hype man, adds that the asteroid will make a relatively close approach, about 4.5 million kilometers away from Earth. I mean, at that distance, it’s basically waving hello. But hey, if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, just remember that this isn’t our first dance with a mini moon—similar phenomena cheekily popped up in 1981 and 2022. It’s like the universe is trying to remind us: “You think you’re special? Hold my beer!”
So what can we learn from our fleeting friend? Space is a vast and often whimsical place filled with mini moons and dish-sized asteroids. And while this little rock may be vanishing soon, fear not—it’ll return to entertain us again in the not-so-distant future. Just make sure you stock up on snacks for the show!
Until next time, keep looking up, and remember: the cosmos has a divine sense of humor, and apparently, so do bus-sized asteroids!
How does NASA monitor mini moons like 2024 PTS, and what methods are used to ensure they pose no threat to Earth?
**Interview with Barbara Castanheira Endl: Understanding Asteroid 2024 PTS**
**Interviewer**: Welcome, Professor Endl. Thank you for joining us today to discuss the intriguing phenomenon of the asteroid known as 2024 PTS, our ”mini moon” that is currently orbiting Earth.
**Barbara Castanheira Endl**: Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to talk about celestial events.
**Interviewer**: So, 2024 PTS is quite small, about the size of a bus. Can you explain why that’s significant and what it means for us on Earth?
**Barbara Castanheira Endl**: Absolutely. The size of 2024 PTS—roughly 10 meters—means it’s very different from our regular Moon, which is 3,474 kilometers in diameter. Mini moons like this one are fascinating because they are relatively small and faint, often only visible through reflected light. This highlights how much we still have to learn about our celestial neighborhood. Smaller objects frequently pass by Earth unnoticed.
**Interviewer**: You mentioned that these types of asteroids can be hard to detect. Is it common for mini moons to orbit Earth without us knowing about them?
**Barbara Castanheira Endl**: It is indeed possible. Many small asteroids could be orbiting Earth at any time without detection. The 2024 PTS is a great example of how gravity can pull asteroids into our orbit—potentially, there could be objects as small as a dishwasher that are out there and yet to be discovered.
**Interviewer**: Interesting! NASA has stated that 2024 PTS poses no danger to Earth. Can you elaborate on that?
**Barbara Castanheira Endl**: Right. In terms of size, 2024 PTS is far too small to pose any threat. NASA continuously monitors such objects, and they have assured us that this mini moon is not a concern for our planet. Its journey will come to an end soon, as it will pass back into deep space, but it’s expected to return in 2055.
**Interviewer**: That’s quite an interesting timeline to look forward to! Are such occurrences common, and can we expect to see more mini moons in the future?
**Barbara Castanheira Endl**: Yes, mini moons do occur but not frequently. The phenomenon of temporary moons like 2024 PTS has been documented before, with similar events happening in 1981 and 2022. The study of these mini moons is crucial because it not only helps us understand more about asteroid behavior but also about the gravitational interactions within our solar system.
**Interviewer**: Thank you, Professor Endl, for sharing your insights with us today. It seems like there’s always a lot to learn from the universe!
**Barbara Castanheira Endl**: My pleasure! There’s always something fascinating happening in space; we just need to keep looking up.
