By Say hello to 2024 PT5, Earth’s newest mini-moon! This near-Earth asteroid is set to enter our planet’s orbit for a couple of months, beginning September 29, 2024, before being released back into the solar system to continue its journey around the sun.
2024 PT5 is an Arjuna asteroid measuring approximately 11 meters in diameter—roughly the size of two giraffes. Its discovery was detailed in a study published in the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society.
The asteroid will approach Earth at a close range and low relative velocity, entering orbit on September 29 and departing on November 25, 2024. It will also make a close pass on January 9, 2025.
Researchers note that Earth frequently captures near-Earth objects (NEOs), pulling them into temporary orbits, which they refer to as “mini-moons.” This phenomenon is described as a “temporarily captured flyby.”
