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Temporary Mini-Moon: Asteroid 2024 PT5 to Join Earth

Our solar system is bustling with debris, and occasionally, we have the opportunity to witness some of it in various forms, such as meteors illuminating the night sky or bright comets. Sometimes, Earth momentarily captures an asteroid, resulting in a phenomenon where the asteroid becomes a temporary “mini-moon.”

This month, Earth is set to welcome Asteroid 2024 PT5, which will pass so closely that it will temporarily orbit our planet. The asteroid is expected to be captured by Earth’s gravitational pull from September 29 until November 25, after which it will remain in the vicinity until early January 2025.

Such occurrences are not unique; they happen occasionally with near-Earth objects (NEOs) due to their trajectories and relatively slow speeds. Some of these celestial objects might only remain in orbit for days or weeks, while others may not complete a full orbit before breaking free.

The last recorded mini-moon was Asteroid 2022 NX1, which was temporarily captured in 2022 and had a previous encounter with Earth in 1981. There was also another case in 2020 when a similar phenomenon occurred.

Interestingly, not all mini-moons are natural; some are remnants of human space exploration, like spent rocket stages from lunar missions. However, Asteroid 2024 PT5 appears to be a genuine celestial body, not space debris. Paul Wiegert, a professor from Western University’s department of physics and astronomy, remarked, “It has some behavior similar to other natural objects, making it more likely to be a legitimate asteroid than a piece of human-made debris.”

Asteroid 2024 PT5 was discovered on August 7 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). While it provides an intriguing opportunity for observation, it’s crucial to note that it will not complete even one full orbit around Earth during its temporary stay. Instead, the asteroid will approach, orbit briefly, and then be released back into space.

Asteroids like PT5 typically originate from the main asteroid belt situated between Mars and Jupiter. Wiegert explained, “These objects can sometimes escape their orbits and join the near-Earth asteroid population, which we monitor for potential threats to our planet. Fortunately, 2024 PT5 is on a safe trajectory and poses no risk of collision.”

There is also a possibility that this asteroid originated from the moon. However, potential observers should temper their expectations: 2024 PT5 measures about 10 meters in diameter, making it too dim to be seen with the naked eye. Large telescopes, however, should be able to track its path.

This event underscores the fact that our planet resides in a dynamic cosmic environment. Wiegert noted, “It’s a fascinating occurrence, and while it may not yield significant scientific discoveries, it serves as a reminder of the many celestial events happening around us.”

Source
www.cbc.ca