Earth’s Second Mini Moon: 2024 PT5 to Be Visible from Today
Earth’s Second mini Moon: 2024 PT5 to Be Visible from Today
Starting today, Earth will welcome its second "Mini Moon," officially designated as 2024 PT5. This small asteroid, approximately 10 meters (about 33 feet) in diameter, will orbit our planet from september 29 to november 25. The trajectory of this celestial object has been documented in a recent study published by the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society.
Visibility
Unfortunately, 2024 PT5 will not be visible to the naked eye, nor through binoculars or amateur telescopes. Only professional-grade telescopes will be able to capture images of this mini-moon as it transits the stars. Dr. Jennifer Millard from the Awesome Astronomy podcast mentioned that stunning images of the mini-moon will be available online, showcasing this little dot moving against the backdrop of stars.
Characteristics
This mini-moon is significantly smaller than Earth's natural moon, which has a diameter of about 3,474 km. The asteroid is expected to be moving at a relatively slow speed of around 3,500 km/h, allowing Earth's gravitational field to temporarily capture and trap it.
Origin
2024 PT5 belongs to the arjuna asteroid belt, which contains several space bodies with orbits similar to that of Earth. It was initially detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on august 7, 2024.
Future Sightings
Interestingly, 2024 PT5 is projected to return to Earth’s orbit in 2055, indicating that mini-moons are not a rare phenomenon and can circle Earth periodically.
As this mini-moon makes its appearance, it serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our solar system and the many asteroids that often go unnoticed. Keep an eye out for images and updates from professional astronomers capturing this celestial event!
Starting today, Earth will welcome its second "Mini Moon," officially designated as 2024 PT5. This small asteroid, approximately 10 meters (about 33 feet) in diameter, will orbit our planet from september 29 to november 25. The trajectory of this celestial object has been documented in a recent study published by the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society.
Visibility
Unfortunately, 2024 PT5 will not be visible to the naked eye, nor through binoculars or amateur telescopes. Only professional-grade telescopes will be able to capture images of this mini-moon as it transits the stars. Dr. Jennifer Millard from the Awesome Astronomy podcast mentioned that stunning images of the mini-moon will be available online, showcasing this little dot moving against the backdrop of stars.
Characteristics
This mini-moon is significantly smaller than Earth's natural moon, which has a diameter of about 3,474 km. The asteroid is expected to be moving at a relatively slow speed of around 3,500 km/h, allowing Earth's gravitational field to temporarily capture and trap it.
Origin
2024 PT5 belongs to the arjuna asteroid belt, which contains several space bodies with orbits similar to that of Earth. It was initially detected by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on august 7, 2024.
Future Sightings
Interestingly, 2024 PT5 is projected to return to Earth’s orbit in 2055, indicating that mini-moons are not a rare phenomenon and can circle Earth periodically.
As this mini-moon makes its appearance, it serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our solar system and the many asteroids that often go unnoticed. Keep an eye out for images and updates from professional astronomers capturing this celestial event!