A brand new “mini-moon” the scale of a metropolis bus is circling our planet and can proceed hanging out in our skies till Thanksgiving week. It is an asteroid named 2024 PT5, which entered Earth’s orbit on Sept. 29 and can be caught there till Nov. 25, earlier than flying away again into the photo voltaic system.
Scientists call such phenomena mini-moons. The asteroid was discovered by a bunch referred to as ATLAS, which stands for Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Final Alert System, in August. The researchers who discovered it published a nonpeer-reviewed study in regards to the asteroid.
Some previous mini-moons, resembling this one from 2020, have been found to be random items of area junk. The 2020 mini-moon was ultimately recognized as a rocket booster from the 1966 Surveyor 2 Centaur launch. However ATLAS studies this new mini-moon is prone to be an actual asteroid, which is just outlined as a small, rocky object that orbits the solar.
Novice astronomer Tony Dunn posted a simulation to X of what the asteroid’s path will appear like. 2024 PT5 has already been close to Earth since July.
Throughout the occasion, the asteroid’s geocentric energy will become negative and stay that manner for 56.6 days. In Dunn’s simulation, the orbit is proven because the pink line, and it solely circles about 25% of the Earth.
The asteroid will not full a full orbit of Earth, so some astronomers confer with it as a temporarily captured flyby. Mini-moons that do full a complete orbit of Earth are known as quickly captured orbiters.
Do not anticipate to see the mini-moon
It is unlikely you may see the mini-moon. NASA says absolutely the magnitude of 2024 PT5 is 27.593. Which means it is fairly dim and will not be seen even if in case you have a telescope. For reference, the dimmest magnitude that’s seen to the bare eye at evening is round 6.5 and a 12-inch telescope can see objects with a magnitude of round 16 or 17. Which means novice astronomers are going to have to take a seat this one out, because you’d want a a lot bigger telescope to see 2024 PT5.
Mini-moons aren’t notably uncommon. They happen virtually yearly. Earth had a mini-moon in 2022 due to the peculiar flight path of the 2022 YG asteroid. Another one arrived in 2020 courtesy of the 2020 CD3 asteroid. A few of them are even bright enough to see with novice astronomy devices.
Many asteroids come again time and again for repeat visits as nicely. The 2022 NX1 asteroid turned a mini-moon in 1981 and 2022. It is scheduled to make its return in 2051. Probably the greatest examples is 2006 RH120, which orbited Earth for an entire 12 months between July 2006 and July 2007. The phenomenon is so constant that some researchers say that Earth at all times has a mini-moon lurking round someplace.
