Earth to host temporary mini moon for two months starting today
phys.org —
Earth will soon have a temporary "mini moon," an asteroid about 33 feet (10 meters) wide, named 2024 PT5. It will be captured by Earth's gravity and orbit the planet for nearly two months, starting on September 29, 2024. The asteroid was discovered in August by astronomers in Spain. These mini moons are believed to be more common, but they are difficult to detect due to their small size. The last known mini moon was spotted in 2020. 2024 PT5 will circle Earth for about 57 days before leaving on November 25, 2024. It is not visible to the naked eye but can be observed with large telescopes. It is expected to return in 2055.