A small asteroid, 2024 PT5, will spend the next two months alongside our planet as a mini moon before swooping back to deep space
An artist’s concept of a small asteroid in deep space. When such objects approach within a few million kilometers of Earth moving at sufficiently slow speed with respect to our planet, they can be captured as satellites.In just a few days, Earth is set to get a mysterious visitor from deep space—but it won’t stay long.
Its sojourn alongside Earth will be brief, however, not even allowing this interplanetary visitor time enough to complete one full orbit. By November 25, the sun’s gravitational tugging will have overcome that of Earth’s, sending this mini moon back into its default heliocentric orbit with the rest of its Arjuna kin.. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
If missing out on a telescopic snapshot of a faint fuzzy dot somehow leaves you feeling blue, there’s solace to be found in the future. Based on 122 measurements of its orbit across 21 days, 2024 PT5 is predicted to be transiently captured by Earth again in 2055, offering three decades in which to plan your ideal observations. But if you’re impatient, don’t fret—mini moons are somewhat common, and some last longer than others.
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