Earth Will Temporarily Have a Tiny Second ‘Moon’ This Autumn, Scientists Say
Get ready for an exciting space event! Scientists report that Earth is set to gain a temporary “mini-moon” starting September 29.
This will happen when a small asteroid gets captured by Earth’s gravity and orbits our planet for a couple of months before flying away again.
This mini-moon, known as asteroid 2024 PT5, was first noticed by NASA’s asteroid monitoring system on August 7. It’s only about 32 feet long, much smaller than our usual moon, which is over 2,000 miles wide.
Unfortunately, the mini-moon will be too dim and small to see with the naked eye or even with binoculars; only professional telescopes will be able to spot it.
Dr. Jennifer Millard, an astronomer, explained that while this mini-moon won’t complete a full orbit around Earth, it will be influenced enough by our planet’s gravity to change its path slightly. After two months, it will leave Earth’s orbit, but scientists expect it will return in 2055.
This event shows just how active our solar system is and highlights the importance of continuously monitoring the night sky.
Many objects are out there waiting to be discovered, and this mini-moon is just one of many surprises that await us, according to Dr. Millard.
So, even if you miss seeing this tiny asteroid, there will be more opportunities in the future, reminding us of the wonders of space.
Source: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dvxgrmk95o