For two months this fall, Earth will have not one but two moons. A rare celestial event will see asteroid 2024 PT5 temporarily orbiting our planet from September 29 to November 25, becoming Earth’s “mini moon.” Discovered on August 7 by NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), this tiny space rock, measuring just 33 feet in length, will make its brief but exciting appearance in Earth’s orbit. Though small, its presence opens up fascinating opportunities for astronomers and space enthusiasts to study and explore.
In a rare celestial event, asteroid 2024 PT5 will become Earth’s temporary mini moon. This space rock was discovered on August 7 by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). It is only 33 feet long and is set to briefly orbit Earth from September 29 to November 25. After that, it will continue its journey through space.
Federica Spoto, an asteroid dynamics researcher at the Center for …