Earth will have a second moon
Friday, 27 September, 2024132 words2 minutes
According to a study in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society, Earth will have a second mini-moon from late September to late November.
This mini-moon is a small asteroid, about 10 meters in length, pulled into orbit by Earth’s gravity. Although mini-moons are rare, they have occurred before, notably in 1981 and 2022. Astronomers have named this mini-moon 2024 PT5, and it won’t be visible without a telescope. These mini-moons are temporary visitors to Earth’s orbit and eventually move away after a few months or up to two years.
The asteroid will resume its orbit around the Sun after leaving Earth’s gravitational pull. Mini-moons are difficult to observe due to their small size and dim light compared to the vast darkness of space. This asteroid won’t return until the year 2055.
