Earth to Get a Temporary Second Moon This September

Earth is on the brink of an extraordinary celestial event. Starting September 29, asteroid 2024 PT5 will become Earth’s temporary second moon, a phenomenon set to last until November 25. This small asteroid, discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on August 7, is poised to orbit our planet before drifting away into space.

Researchers Carlos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos from Spain’s Universidad Complutense de Madrid have detailed this event in a recent paper published in Research Notes of the AAS. The asteroid’s trajectory will allow it to be captured by Earth’s gravity, making it a fascinating temporary addition to our night sky.

This occurrence is not entirely unprecedented. Similar events have been documented before; notably, a mini-moon orbited Earth in 2006 for about a year, and another temporary satellite was noted in 2020. The phenomenon is relatively rare but provides a unique opportunity for scientists and skywatchers alike.

The asteroid 2024 PT5 is thought to have originated from the Arjuna asteroid belt and bears similarities to another mini-moon, 2022 NX1, which had short-term gravitational interactions with Earth. The asteroid’s brief stay will offer a temporary yet intriguing addition to our natural satellite system.