The Asteroid that Became Earth’s Temporary Moon
The Asteroid that Became Earth’s Temporary Moon https://asteroidday-uploads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25114757/111.gif 512 341 Asteroid Day https://asteroidday-uploads.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/25114757/111.gif
Earth’s gravity has temporarily captured a small asteroid, transforming it into a minor moon for approximately two months. Asteroid 2024 PT5, which is estimated to measure between 8 and 20 metres in diameter, was discovered last August by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), responsible for monitoring near-Earth asteroids.
The visitor belongs to the Arjuna belt, a secondary belt made up of space rocks that follow orbits very similar to Earth’s at an average distance from the sun of about 150 million kilometres. These components are part of the near-Earth object population of asteroids and comets.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 (green circle) photographed by the Catalina Sky Survey (Kacper Wierzchos/KXAN)
This small asteroid will accompany Earth between September 29 and November 25, 2024. Following this period, it will be ejected from Earth’s orbit due to the gravitational influence of the Sun and will return to its belt, making its trajectory through the Solar System in a regular orbit around the Sun.
2024 PT5 is not visible to the naked eye, but can only be observed with professional telescopes, which will have the opportunity to study it while it is temporarily captured by Earth’s gravity. This asteroid poses no risk of collision with our planet.
Captures of asteroids by Earth for short periods are relatively common events, with several occurring every decade. In contrast, long-term capture episodes are rare, with Earth experiencing one every ten to twenty years.
Based on more than 100 measurements of its orbit over the course of a few weeks, asteroid 2024 PT5 is predicted to be transiently captured by Earth again in 2055, allowing for three decades to plan for optimal observations.
See also:
Asteroid 2024 PT5 – The Sky Live
LEARN – What are Near Earth Asteroids (NEA)?
