Earth is about to have a mini moon in 2 months

In a new study published in the journal Research Notes of the AAStwo experts Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos from Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, presented the expected path of asteroid 2024 PT5, Phys September 13 news.

Previous studies have shown that many asteroids have been drawn into a semi-elliptical or fully elliptical orbit around Earth before escaping. For example, in 2006, a small asteroid circled Earth for about a year. Another asteroid circled Earth for several years before departing in 2020.

In the new study, the team looked at the small asteroid 2024 PT5, which was discovered in August by the Asteroid Final Alert System. Previous research had shown that the asteroid was not on a collision course with Earth, and they suspected that it might be pulled back by the planet’s gravity for a while.

The team also noted that 2024 PT5 is small, measuring just 10 meters in diameter. Based on its size, speed, and current trajectory, they calculated the asteroid’s trajectory over the next few months and found that it will come close enough to be trapped by Earth’s gravity for several months. Specifically, the small asteroid is expected to orbit Earth once, becoming a “new moon” for about 53 days, starting in late September and leaving in mid-November.

In addition to the flight path, the researchers also calculated the origin of 2024 PT5. They found that the object likely came from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which is made up of asteroids with orbits similar to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. They also said that it is unlikely that 2024 PT5 is a piece of space junk because its orbit is similar to that of a natural object.