Starting on September 29, Earth will have a second celestial body in its rotation. An asteroid from the Arjuna asteroid is anticipated to be trapped in Earth’s orbit and will loop around the Earth. The asteroid will remain in the Earths orbit for about two months, returning to space on November 25th. While formally named 2024 PT5, astronomers are calling this asteroid a “mini moon”.
Occasionally, objects from the Arjuna asteroid belt will approach Earth and become trapped in the Earth’s orbit. In order for this to happen, certain conditions must be met to ensure a successful capture. These conditions include the asteroid approaching Earth at a low velocity of around 2,200 miles per hour, allowing the planet’s gravitational pull to effectively influence its trajectory. Additionally, the asteroid must be at a close range of about 2.8 million miles, (which is relatively near in cosmic terms.) If these conditions align, the asteroid can be drawn into an orbit around Earth, creating opportunities for further study and exploration of its composition and the potential resources it may offer. Scientists specializing in this area have termed these instances as “mini-moon events”.
There are two types of mini-moon events. There are long mini-moon events in which the mini-moon revolves around the planet one or more times. This typically lasts a year or longer. The second type of mini-moon event is short-term. Like the one we are about to experience, the short-term mini-moon occurrence can last anywhere from a few days to a few months. In this instance, the asteroid does not make a full rotation around the planet.
Unfortunately, this mini moon won’t be visible from the ground. The asteroid is too small and not bright enough for the naked eye or amateur telescopes too see. However, professional telescopes will be easily able to pick up the mini moon. For the mini moon to be telescope visible, the telescope must have a diameter of at least 30 inches.
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