Double Vision: The Mysterious Spacecraft Set to Become Earth’s Second Moon in a Record-Breaking 53-Day Orbit
Asteroid “2024 PT5” Captured by Gravity
Orbits the Earth for 53 days starting on September 29. Although it cannot be observed with the naked eye or binoculars, it is bright enough to be seen through an astronomical telescope.
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[Photo: Reuters]
Earth will briefly host a “mini moon” this fall. An asteroid the size of a city bus is pulled by Earth’s gravity and will orbit Earth for a brief two-month period.
A planetary research group from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, recently published a report in an international journal published by the American Astronomical Society (AAS), stating that the approximately 10-meter-long asteroid “2024 PT5” orbits the solar system and is captured by Earth’s gravity.
The asteroid will briefly become Earth’s satellite from September 29 to November 21, orbiting the Earth for 53 days.
This asteroid, which briefly becomes Earth’s moon in the autumn, is part of the Arjuna asteroid belt, which follows an orbit similar to Earth’s in the solar system.
Asteroids in the Arjuna asteroid belt can come close to Earth due to their similar orbits.
If an asteroid is moving at a relatively low speed, less than 3,540 km/h, it will be strongly influenced by Earth’s gravity and will remain in the surrounding area.
However, like other asteroids, these asteroids eventually leave the planet’s orbit after a certain period of time and fly off into space.
2024 PT5 cannot be seen directly with the naked eye or through a normal telescope (binoculars). However, it is bright enough to be visible through common telescopes used by astronomers.
Carlos Puente Marcos, lead author of the report, explained: “This asteroid, which remains for 53 days and then moves away, is so small that it will be difficult for the general public to observe it, but its position can be determined through YouTube channels such as World Cam.”
This is not the first time Earth has had a mini moon. Mini moons have been created twice, in 1981 and 2022. After PT5 in 2024, the next temporary satellite is expected to appear in 2055.