2024 PT5 is the name of a space rock 10 meters in diameter rotating around the Earth. Nicknamed “mini moon”, this asteroid unfortunately did not stay around us for very long, and it is because of a well-known star: the Sun.
No more mini moons for Earth
27.3 days is the time it takes for the Moon to circle the Earth. Good news for her, she had made a friend for some time. The space rock 2024 PT5 actually appeared last August, and left its post after only two short months.
For much of the summer, the latter had a more precisely horseshoe-shaped trajectory around the Earth, then was deviated when the effects of the gravitational field of our blue planet gave way to the more powerful forces of the Sun .
Scientists estimate that 2024 PT5 would have once been a part of the Moon. It would have left our very dear satellite because of an asteroidal star which would have struck it millions of years ago.
A possible return to our home
We also learn that the mini moon could potentially have been part of the Arjuna asteroid belt, a group of asteroids following an orbit similar to that of Earth. However, it has never made a complete trip around our planet.
Near Space.comProfessor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos of the Complutense University of Madrid images the orbit of the mini moon in the following way: “We can say that if a real satellite is like a customer who buys goods in a store, items like 2024 PT5 are window shopping”.
For the case of 2024 PT5, we know that he has not said goodbye to us for the moment. Scientists are indeed mentioning its return next year during the month of January 2025. Moreover, NASA is preparing this time to follow it very closely. Note, it is not visible with amateur telescopes or binoculars.
Following this, it will be necessary to wait around thirty years to find it.
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