Earth will have a temporary mini-moon from September 29 to November 25, 2024, due to the asteroid 2024 PT5:
- Size: The asteroid is about 33 feet (10 meters) in diameter.
- Orbit: It will orbit Earth at a distance of about 2.6 million miles at its closest point, which is ten times the distance between Earth and the Moon.
- Visibility: It won’t be visible to the naked eye or with most amateur telescopes, but it can be detected with larger professional telescopes.
- Discovery: NASA’s Atlas discovered the asteroid on August 7, 2024.
- Origin: The asteroid is from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains rocks with orbits that are similar to Earth’s.
- Return: The asteroid is expected to return in 2055.
- Scientific study: This event provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study NEOs and their dynamics.
Comments and Reactions