Earth is temporarily getting a ‘SECOND MOON’: Asteroid 2024 PT5 to Grace the Skies
Starting from September 29, 2024, Earth will temporarily capture a new “mini-moon” — asteroid 2024 PT5. For 53 days, this small asteroid, approximately 10 meters in diameter, will orbit our planet, creating a rare celestial event known as a temporarily captured flyby. Unlike our permanent moon, 2024 PT5 will follow a horseshoe-shaped path before being ejected back into space on November 25, 2024. This intriguing event is part of a natural occurrence seen with other near-Earth objects and offers scientists a unique opportunity to study the interactions between our planet’s gravitational field and smaller celestial bodies.