Asteroid 2024 PT5 to become Earth's temporary mini-moon this fall
Asteroid 2024 PT5 will become a temporary "mini-moon" as it enters Earth's orbit from September 29 to November 25, 2024. This asteroid, about the size of a city bus, was discovered in August by the ATLAS project. Mini-moons like 2024 PT5 are not uncommon. They are small asteroids that can be captured by Earth's gravity for short periods. Unlike some past objects mistaken for mini-moons, 2024 PT5 is confirmed to be a genuine asteroid. 2024 PT5 will not complete a full orbit around Earth but will circle about 25 percent of the planet's surface. It will be difficult to see with the naked eye or standard telescopes due to its low brightness.