Earth welcomes new mini-moon 2024 PT5 for two-month visit
A small asteroid named 2024 PT5 will become Earth's temporary mini-moon on September 29, 2024. About the size of a city bus, it will orbit Earth for roughly two months before leaving the solar system. Discovered in August 2024 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, 2024 PT5 is confirmed to be an asteroid, not space debris. Its close approach will allow astronomers to study its composition, although it may not be visible to the naked eye. Earth has had several mini-moons in recent years, and 2024 PT5 presents a rare chance for scientists to observe a celestial object up close. This study could provide insights into the solar system's formation and evolution.