At the end of September 2024, Earth will temporarily gain a second moon, a “mini-moon” that is actually a small asteroid named 2024 PT5. The asteroid, originating from the Arjuna asteroid belt, will follow a similar orbit to Earth’s and is set to stay in Earth’s orbit until November 25th, 2024. This isn’t the first time Earth has had a mini-moon, but 2024 PT5’s proximity to Earth at 2.8 million miles makes it noteworthy.
Earth is set to temporarily obtain another moon on September 29th.
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 18, 2024
The asteroid known as a ‘mini-moon’ is expected to make a single orbit journey around Earth, ending on November 25th. pic.twitter.com/7UOS5LZ5vH
The asteroid will travel at around 2,200 mph, significantly slower than the International Space Station, which orbits at 17,500 mph. While it will technically orbit Earth, 2024 PT5 is classified as a temporary satellite and won’t complete a full orbit before it moves on. As Professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos explained, the asteroid will act like a “window shopper,” not sticking around long-term.
Unfortunately, the mini-moon won’t be visible to the naked eye or even with typical household telescopes due to its small size and dimness. Observing it requires advanced professional telescopes with a diameter of at least 30 inches and specialized equipment like a CCD or CMOS detector.
This rare celestial event adds excitement to the upcoming astronomical calendar, though most people won’t be able to see the mini-moon directly. The scientific community, however, will continue to track and study its brief stay in Earth’s orbit.
