Earth captures new mini-moon asteroid 2024 PT5 for two months

Earth has a new "mini-moon," an asteroid named 2024 PT5, which has entered our orbit. Discovered last month, it will remain with Earth until November before drifting away to continue its path around the Sun. Mini-moons like 2024 PT5 are formed when asteroids are captured by Earth's gravity. This particular object is not a threat and was identified by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System. While mini-moons are relatively rare, Earth has experienced similar events before. The last notable mini-moon, 2022 NX1, was captured in 1981 and returned in 2022. Other planets, especially Jupiter, also have their own mini-moons.