Mini Moon to Orbit Earth for a Brief Visit Before Continuing Its Journey

Earth is about to gain a short-term companion in space, often referred to as a “mini moon.” This mini moon is actually an asteroid, with a size comparable to a school bus, measuring approximately 33 feet (10 meters) in length. On Sunday, the asteroid will come close enough to Earth to be temporarily captured by the planet’s gravity, causing it to orbit Earth for a brief period. However, its stay will only last for about two months before it continues its journey through the cosmos.

The asteroid, designated as 2024 PT5, was first discovered in August by astronomers from Complutense University of Madrid. They made the discovery using a highly advanced telescope located in Sutherland, South Africa. The identification of such temporary moons, while not unheard of, is a relatively recent development in the field of astronomy. These mini moons, which come into Earth’s gravitational pull, stay only briefly before resuming their independent courses in space.

Richard Binzel, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), commented on the phenomenon of mini moons. He explained that these short-lived objects might be more common than most people think, but due to their small size and the challenges in detecting them, they are often overlooked. “This happens with some frequency, but we rarely see them because they’re very small and very hard to detect,” Binzel noted. “Only recently has our survey capability reached the point of spotting them routinely.”

Astronomers have long suspected that Earth has temporary moons from time to time, but the tools and technology available to track and confirm these objects have only advanced in recent years. The discovery of this particular mini moon was made by astronomers Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos, and their findings have been published by the American Astronomical Society.

According to the astronomers who discovered it, 2024 PT5 won’t be visible to the naked eye. Additionally, it won’t be visible through typical amateur telescopes either, making it a challenging object for space enthusiasts to observe. However, it can be tracked using large, research-grade telescopes. In an email discussing the asteroid, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos explained, “It can be observed with relatively large, research-grade telescopes,” which highlights the sophistication required to detect such an object.

Richard Binzel, though not directly involved in the research surrounding this particular discovery, has raised an interesting question about the origin of the asteroid. He said it remains unclear whether 2024 PT5 is a typical asteroid or if it could potentially be a fragment from the moon that was blasted away during some unknown event. “It’s not clear whether the space rock originated as an asteroid or as ‘a chunk of the moon that got blasted out,'” Binzel added, suggesting there could be more to the story of this mini moon than currently known.

During its brief stay in Earth’s orbit, 2024 PT5 will not complete a full orbit of the planet. Instead, it will circle Earth for approximately 57 days before it eventually escapes Earth’s gravity and resumes its independent journey through space. The asteroid will continue its cosmic travels without being permanently bound to Earth. According to astronomers tracking its path, 2024 PT5 will depart from Earth’s vicinity on November 25, marking the end of its temporary status as Earth’s mini moon. However, its journey near Earth is far from over. Predictions indicate that the asteroid is expected to pass by Earth once again in 2055, giving future astronomers another chance to observe it up close.

Though the idea of mini moons may seem novel to many, they have been observed in the past, with the last known mini moon being detected in 2020. However, that discovery and others like it have been rare, largely due to the difficulty in spotting such small objects in space. The mini moon phenomenon provides an exciting opportunity for astronomers to study the behavior of space rocks that come close to Earth and temporarily orbit our planet.

Overall, the discovery of 2024 PT5 adds to the growing body of knowledge about Earth’s temporary moons. While the asteroid won’t be visible to the general public or even most amateur astronomers, its brief orbit around Earth is an event of scientific interest, especially for those with access to research-grade telescopes and tools to track its movements. After 57 days, the mini moon will leave Earth’s orbit and resume its solitary journey through space, reminding us of the vast, ever-changing nature of the cosmos.

The discovery also highlights the advances in astronomy and the increased capability to detect and track even small celestial objects. While 2024 PT5’s stay in Earth’s orbit will be brief, it serves as a reminder of the fascinating and dynamic nature of our planet’s relationship with the universe. The asteroid’s brief visit might be a fleeting event in astronomical terms, but it is a notable milestone for scientists and researchers dedicated to exploring and understanding the complexities of space.

As technology continues to improve, it is likely that more mini moons will be detected in the future, shedding light on the lesser-known phenomena that occur around our planet. For now, 2024 PT5 will have its brief moment as Earth’s companion before it moves on, leaving astronomers to await its return in 2055.