An asteroid heading towards Earth is set to have an unusual lot : or else of smashing through our planet ’s atmosphere , it ’s potential to become snare in orbit and become a miniskirt - moon . It will be a swift visit , however , and is probable to only remain in Earth ’s gravitative reach for two calendar month .
The asteroid , advert 2024 PT5 , was discovered on August 7 and measures around 10 meters ( 33 animal foot ) in diameter .
Two uranologist from the Complutense University of Madrid , Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos , have study the compass of the object and concluded that it will become capture in Earth ’s orbit for a brief window between September 29 and November 25 . It will then fall back into reach of the Sun and continue its journeying through the Solar System .
In other words , for a sum of 56.6 days , Earth will have two Moon ( well , oneproper Moonand one miniskirt - synodic month , to be precise ) .
The study notes that 2024 PT5is “ unlikely to be artificial , ” mean it ’s probably not just a piece of infinite junk , whichcan be mistakenfor miniskirt - moons . The researchers suggest it could be an Arjuna asteroid , specify as a near - Earth aim with a similar orbit to our planet . They ’re name after an ancient prince of the Kuru Kingdom , place in present - day India , and a fundamental reference in the Hindu epic Mahābhārata .
ⓘ IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites .
Unfortunately , you ’re unbelievable to catch a coup d’oeil of the mini - synodic month while it ’s welcome by Earth ’s embrace . agree to theNASA JPL Small - Body Database , 2024 PT5has an out-and-out magnitude of 27.6 , which is very wispy and wo n’t be visible through most amateur telescope .
So - called mini - moonlight have graced Earth ’s bearing before . Asteroid 2022 NX1was a short - lived mini - lunar month in 1981 . It quickly leave our planet ’s grasp , beforereturning as a mini - moon in 2022 . It ’s estimated that it will hark back as such in 2051 once again .
2024 PT5is expected to make multiple mini - moon visits too . The asteroid will return to Earth ’s orbit in January 2025 before quick leave and returning again in 2055 .
The written report is bring out in the journalResearch Notes of the American Astronomical Society .
