An asteroid called 2024 PT5, approximately 10 meters in diameter and discovered on August 7, 2024, was discovered to be rapidly approaching Earth. Researchers working at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid discovered that 2024 PT5 will enter Earth’s orbit between September 9 and November 25. It will accompany Earth’s satellite Moon as a “mini-Moon” for 56 days. The “mini-Moon”, which will follow a horseshoe-shaped orbit, will continue its path in space without completing a full orbit around Earth before continuing on its path around the Sun.
NOT SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE
The researchers calculated that the asteroid, named 2024 PT5, which has a diameter of about 10 meters, will be invaded by Earth’s gravitational field for 53 days, during which time it will orbit the Earth. Although the asteroid named 2024 PT5 is too faint to be seen with the naked eye or a telescope, it will be visible to advanced observatories.
The American Astronomical Society’s statement on the subject is as follows:
“Near-Earth objects (NEOs) that follow horseshoe paths and rapidly approach Earth at close range may undergo minimoon events during which their geocentric energy becomes negative for hours, days, or months but they remain orbitally bound without ever completing a single revolution around the Earth.”
IT’S HAPPENED BEFORE
It has been determined that asteroids have entered orbit many times in the universe before and similar events have occurred. The event that did not occur for the first time has also occurred many times before. For example, 2022 NX1 and 2022. 2024 PT5, mini moons have been discovered to enter in 1981. These transients provide valuable data for astronomers, helping to improve gravitational models and predictions of near-Earth asteroid behavior.