Earth is going to get a new moon later this month. This mini-moon will soon orbit our Earth. However, it will remain near our Earth for a very short time. According to a research by Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raul de la Fuente Marcos, researchers at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, a small asteroid named 2024 PT5 will orbit Earth from September 29 to November 25, 2024. Earlier, this asteroid about 10 meters wide was discovered recently. Earth has attracted small moons towards itself before as well. In 2006, an asteroid kept orbiting for almost a year.
Research has shown that 2024 PT5 will be pulled towards Earth due to its gravity for 56 days. Scientists said, “2024 PT5 will orbit the Earth once before going back into space.” This phenomenon is known as a “temporary flyby”. In this, asteroids enter the Earth’s gravity, but many are unable to orbit. Talking about other mini-moons, they remain in the orbit of the planets for a long time.
Like other asteroids, 2024 PT5 follows a horseshoe-shaped orbit where it approaches Earth at a low velocity, making it possible for Earth’s gravity to temporarily pull it towards itself. The asteroid is probably from the Arjuna group that shares a similar orbit with Earth. It is not considered space debris but a natural object. The next return of 2024 PT5 around Earth will be in 2055.
