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Monday, November 18, 2024

Earth’s second moon for 56 days

 Scientists discover new natural satellite orbiting our planet temporarily

In a ground breaking astronomical discovery, scientists have confirmed that Earth now has a second moon. This celestial companion, known as asteroid 2024 PT5, was captured by our planet’s gravity on 29 Sep, 2024. The revelation has sparked excitement in the scientific community and offers new opportunities for studying near-Earth objects. In the coming days, the Earth will lose its mini-moon, which was temporarily captured by its gravity. From time to time our planet can acquire mini-moons. They are near-Earth objects which move along horseshoe-shaped trajectories and approach the Earth with low relative velocity. As a result, their geocentric energy becomes negative for some time. Quite often such objects do not have time to make a single revolution around the Earth, after which they leave its vicinity.

 Astronomers at the Complutense University of Madrid first spotted this intriguing event using a powerful telescope in Sutherland, South Africa. The tiny asteroid, measuring just 37 feet wide, has been temporarily ensnared by Earth’s gravitational pull, transforming it into a mini-moon. An example of such a mini-moon is the small object 2022 NX1. It became a temporary satellite of our planet twice in 1981 and 2022. Some astronomers speculated that 2022 NX1 may be a spent rocket stage. But observations have not confirmed this theory. We can also mention the tiny asteroid 2006 RH120, whose diameter is only a couple of metres. In 2006-2007, it was a temporary satellite of the Earth and managed to make four revolutions around it, after which it switched to a heliocentric orbit. Richard Binzel, an astronomer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), explains, “These happen with some frequency, but we rarely see them because they’re very small and very hard to detect. Only recently has our survey capability reached the point of spotting them routinely.” While Earth’s primary moon boasts a diameter of 2,159 miles, 2024 PT5 is comparatively minuscule. To put it in perspective :

Earth’s moon : 2,159 miles wide

Asteroid 2024 PT5 : 37 feet wide

Size difference : Earth’s moon is over 300,000 times wider

Despite its small size, this temporary satellite provides valuable insights into our cosmic neighborhood and the dynamics of near-Earth objects.

Now the status of a mini-moon has been transferred to asteroid 2024 PT5. It was discovered on 7 August 2024 telescopes automated system ATLAS. Presumably, 2024 PT5 is part of the Arjuna family of near-Earth asteroids. After astronomers estimated the orbital parameters of 2024 PT5, it became clear that on 29 September it will be temporarily captured by Earth’s gravity. Thus, formally our planet has a second natural satellite. However, the stay of 2024 PT5 in this status turned out to be quite short. In the next few days, the asteroid will leave the sphere of Earth’s gravity. This will happen on 25 November, after which the Moon will again become the only natural companion of our planet. Arjuna asteroid belt, a group of space rocks that follow orbits similar to Earth’s, is approximately 93 million miles from the sun. Some Arjuna asteroids can approach our planet at a close range of around 2.8 million miles, traveling at relatively low velocities of less than 2,200 miles per hour.

However, although very soon 2024 PT5 will no longer be a mini-moon, we will still see it. On 9 January 2025, the asteroid will approach our planet at a distance of 1.8 million km. The visit poses no danger to Earth, this distance is almost five times the distance to the Moon. NASA is already preparing for the coming meeting, intending to conduct radar observations of the asteroid with the help of the Goldstone complex. They will help determine its shape and origin. According to data from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Horizons system, 2024 PT5’s stay in Earth’s orbit is brief. The capture began at 3 :54 p.m. EDT on 29 Sep, 2024, and is expected to end at 11 :43 a.m. EDT on November 25, 2024. Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a professor and mini-moon expert from the Complutense University, likens the asteroid’s behaviour to that of a window shopper. He states, “Asteroid 2024 PT5 will not describe a full orbit around Earth. You may say that if a true satellite is like a customer buying goods inside a store, objects like 2024 PT5 are window shoppers.” This celestial visitor’s journey serves as a reminder of the dynamic nature of our solar system. While it won’t remain in Earth’s orbit for billions of years like our primary moon, its fleeting presence offers a unique opportunity for scientific study.

Binzel emphasizes the importance of these events, stating, “These temporary captures are natural cosmic laboratories. They help us understand the small bodies that come close to Earth and could be important for future space missions.” Mini-moons like 2024 PT5 provide scientists with valuable opportunities to study near-Earth objects up close. These temporary captures act as natural cosmic laboratories, offering insights into the composition of asteroids and the intricate workings of our solar system. While mini-moons are too small and dim for most amateur astronomers to observe, they fall within the detection range of professional-grade telescopes. To spot 2024 PT5, one would requireP-

Equipment Specifications

Telescope diameter At least 30 inches

Detector CCD or CMOS

The study of mini-moons contributes to our understanding of near-Earth asteroids and their potential impact on our planet. By analysing these temporary satellites, scientists can refine their models of asteroid behaviour and improve our ability to predict and mitigate potential collisions.

As technology advances, researchers hope to study these fleeting visitors more closely. Future missions may even attempt to gather samples or test new spacecraft designs using mini-moons as targets. The discovery of 2024 PT5 and other mini-moons highlights the ever-changing nature of our cosmic environment. It serves as a reminder that our solar system is a dynamic place, full of surprises and opportunities for scientific exploration. While Earth’s second moon may be temporary, its presence opens up new avenues for research and discovery. As we continue to scan the skies, who knows what other celestial wonders we might uncover ? The universe never ceases to amaze, and each new finding brings us one step closer to unravelling its mysteries. As for the asteroid, after the approach in January 2025, it will leave the vicinity of the Earth and continue its orbit around the Sun. The next time 2024 PT5 will approach our planet will be in 2055.

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