Thousands of asteroids fly by the Earth every year. But the asteroid named 2024 PT5 is different. It's set to become Earth's ‘mini moon’ for nearly two months. Read on to know more!
Asteroid 2024 PT5 is expected to approach the Earth on September 29, and instead of flying past, it will get locked in the gravitational field and orbit the planet for about 56 days.
2024 PT5 will loop around the Earth and leave its gravitational field on November 25. Thus, it will be like a temporary satellite, because of which it has been dubbed as a ‘mini moon’.
However, it won't be visible to the naked eye due its small size and low reflectivity. It can only be observed from advanced telescopes.
The asteroid is merely 10 metres in diameter. Its relatively low velocity and close approach to the planet will temporarily alter its path, making it Earth’s second moon for about two months.
Discovered on August 7 by two astronomers, 2024 PT5 will make multiple visits to Earth as its mini moon. It is likely to visit the planet in January 2025, before returning again in 2055.
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