Earth’s New Mini Moon Celestial Surprise on September 29 For Two Months

Earth will get a brief second moon starting September 29, 2024. This will be an interesting event in the sky.

This is called a “mini-moon,” and it happens when Earth’s gravity pulls a small rock into orbit around the planet for a short time.

What is a Mini-Moon?

A mini-moon is a small asteroid that gets temporarily caught in Earth’s gravitational pull. This time, the asteroid designated 2024 PT5 will become Earth’s second moon from September 29 to November 25, 2024. Measuring approximately 10 meters in diameter, this mini-moon is significantly smaller than our regular moon.

The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) found 2024 PT5 on August 7, 2024

It will circle the Earth in a horseshoe shape. This path will bring it close enough to be called a mini-moon, but it will finally go back to its normal path around the Sun.

Astronomers can study the mini-moon up close, even though most people won’t be able to see it with the naked eye.

The event underscores the dynamic nature of our solar system and the continuous interactions between celestial bodies.

This temporary addition to Earth’s natural satellites is a reminder of the ever-changing cosmos.

Although 2024 PT5 will only be with us for a short time, its presence will undoubtedly contribute valuable data to the field of astronomy.