A newly discovered asteroid, 2024 PT5, has entered Earth’s gravitational field, temporarily becoming what some call a “mini-moon.” Detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in South Africa, the asteroid is between 16 and 138 feet in diameter, roughly the size of a bus. It will orbit Earth from September 29 to November 25, 2024, before returning to its heliocentric orbit around the sun. However, scientists assure us that this celestial visitor poses no threat to Earth.
Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a leading researcher, emphasizes that mini-moons like 2024 PT5 are rare events, and although this one won’t complete a full orbit, it will remain in a temporary gravitational tug-of-war with Earth.
A Rare and Harmless Phenomenon
Mini-moons come in two forms: long-capture and short-capture events. Long-capture mini-moons like Asteroid 2020 CD3, which orbited Earth for years, are rare, while short-capture mini-moons like 2024 PT5 are fleeting and common. Typically, such short events occur several times a decade, while long-capture events occur only every 10 to 20 years. Asteroid 2024 PT5 will follow a horseshoe-shaped path before departing, continuing its journey around the sun.
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The asteroid, originating from the Arjuna belt, will orbit Earth from 2.6 million miles away—10 times the distance between Earth and the moon. Despite its size, 2024 PT5 will not be visible to amateur telescopes due to its small and dim nature.
Understanding Mini-Moon Dynamics
Mini-moons must approach Earth slowly, at speeds under 2,237 miles per hour, for the planet’s gravity to capture them. Speed and trajectory, rather than size or mass, determine whether an asteroid is captured. Asteroids traveling too fast or at the wrong angle typically bypass Earth altogether. However, occasional gravitational pulls from other celestial bodies allow slower objects like 2024 PT5 to enter a brief orbit.
Researchers are particularly excited about 2024 PT5, with Robert Jedicke, a solar system expert, suggesting it could be the largest mini-moon ever discovered. Future studies of mini-moons could yield important insights into planetary systems and asteroid origins, contributing to our understanding of space dynamics.
Although 2024 PT5 won’t stay long, it will return in 2055 and 2084 for brief flybys. Before departing, the asteroid will make a closer pass in January 2025, at just 1.1 million miles from Earth. As astronomers continue to study mini-moons like 2024 PT5, we gain valuable knowledge of the solar system’s complex gravitational interactions, offering both scientific insights and awe at our place in the universe.