Earth with temporary 'second Moon'

Earth to get a 'second Moon' : Temporary mini-moon for 53 days

Earth is set to temporarily capture a new mini-moon, a small asteroid named 2024 PT5, from September 29 to November 25. Discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System, this 10-meter-wide asteroid will orbit Earth for 53 days before resuming its journey through the solar system. Two researchers from Complutense University of Madrid have revealed that a small space rock, named 2024 PT5, will temporarily enter Earth's orbit before moving to another part of the solar system. 

A small asteroid is set to orbit Earth for 53 days before moving further into the solar system. Earth is about to welcome a new mini-moon for a short period. Starting from September 29 until November 25, a small asteroid named 2024 PT5 will temporarily be captured by Earth's gravity, according to researchers Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos from University of Madrid. The asteroid, measuring about 10 metres in size, will be drawn into Earth's gravitational pull later this month. Asteroid dynamics specialists Carlos and Raul Márquez outlined how Earth periodically captures asteroids in its orbit. They calculated the trajectory of 2024 PT5 as it approaches Earth, with the object expected to make one complete orbit over 53 days before leaving in mid-November.

The asteroid, approximately 10 meters wide, was discovered through the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System. Researchers found that its size, speed and trajectory are suitable for it to be caught by Earth's gravitational field for 53 days. During this time, it will orbit Earth before resuming its path through the solar system. Although this phenomenon has occurred before, with asteroids orbiting Earth for extended periods, this latest discovery has garnered attention due to its timing and proximity. The asteroid was first identified by the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System last month. The asteroid will not pose any collision risk, according to earlier research, though it will remain in Earth’s orbit due to its gravitational pull, earning the nickname "second small moon."

"2024 PT5 will circle the Earth one time before it escapes back into space," the researchers stated in their paper. This event is known as a "temporarily captured flyby," where an asteroid enters Earth's gravity but does not make multiple orbits. Similar occurrences have been observed in the past. For example, in 2006, an asteroid orbited Earth for nearly a year, and another did so for several years before leaving in 2020. These temporary captures occur frequently as Earth intermittently captures small asteroids from the Near-Earth Object (NEO) population. Asteroids like 2024 PT5 follow paths known as "horseshoe orbiters" due to their shape around Earth and the Sun. These bodies often approach Earth at low speeds, allowing temporary capture. Most mini-moons, however, do not complete a full orbit around Earth before returning to their heliocentric paths.

The origins of the 2024 PT5 asteroid are also of interest. Researchers suggest it likely comes from the Arjuna asteroid group, which has an orbit around the Sun similar to Earth’s. This conclusion is based on the asteroid’s path closely matching other natural objects, dismissing the notion that it is space debris.