Get ready for a celestial spectacle! On September 29, 2024, a newly discovered asteroid named 2024 PT5 will become Earth's temporary "second Moon."
This small asteroid, measuring only 33 feet or 10 meters wide, was first detected by NASA on August 7, 2024. Originating from the Arjuna asteroid belt, it will be captured by Earth's gravity and enter our planet's orbit. However, its stay will be brief, as it is expected to depart on November 25, 2024.
While many outlets refer to it as a "second Moon," it's important to note that it's too small to be visible to the naked eye. This phenomenon, as explained by a study from the American Astronomical Society, occurs when Earth's gravity captures asteroids from the Near-Earth object (NEO) population.
Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and lead author of the study, shared insights into this rare event. He explained that objects in the Arjuna asteroid belt are part of the NEO population and can be temporarily captured by Earth's gravity.
Marcos categorized mini-moon events into two types: those that complete one or more revolutions around Earth, lasting a year or more, and those that don't complete a full revolution, lasting only days, weeks, or, in the case of 2024 PT5, months.
While most people won't be able to see this "second Moon" due to its size and dimness, scientists will be closely studying it to learn more about its characteristics and behavior.
0 Comments