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Asteroid 2024 PT5, a 10-meter-wide space rock, has been caught by Earth’s gravity and is now orbiting our planet.
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The “mini moon” will circle Earth for about two months before breaking free on November 25.
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It’s only visible with large, professional-grade telescopes due to its small size and dim appearance.
Earth has gained a temporary companion in space – a “mini moon” named Asteroid 2024 PT5. This small asteroid, about the size of a bus, was caught by Earth’s gravity on Sunday. It’s expected to orbit our planet for approximately two months before continuing its journey through space.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 is part of the Arjuna asteroid belt, which follows a similar path around the Sun as Earth. While mini moons like this aren’t rare, they’re challenging to detect due to their small size. Scientists are uncertain whether this asteroid is a space rock or a chunk of the Moon that was knocked off long ago.
Unfortunately, spotting the mini moon from India or anywhere else won’t be possible with the naked eye or regular telescopes. Only advanced telescopes can capture images of 2024 PT5. However, online observatories will provide images for those interested.
This temporary visitor serves as a reminder of the many objects flying near Earth. Scientists closely monitor these space rocks to better understand our dynamic solar system.
