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.
Earth will have a second moon

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Words

  • resume
  • gravitational pull
  • dim