Rare Mini-Moon to Grace Earth’s Orbit Today Evening: How to Catch a Glimpse
Stargazers are in for an exciting treat this autumn as Earth is set to temporarily capture a small asteroid, which will become a “mini-moon” for a short time. Starting September 29, this cosmic visitor will orbit Earth until November 25 before continuing its journey through space.
The announcement has thrilled space enthusiasts, although the asteroid will not be visible to the naked eye. Due to its small size and dim appearance, only professional-grade telescopes will be able to capture images of this fleeting celestial body. “You’ll see stunning images online of this tiny rock zipping past the stars,” explained Dr. Jennifer Millard, host of the *Awesome Astronomy* podcast, in an interview with the BBC.
Named 2024 PT5, this asteroid hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt, where objects share orbits similar to Earth’s. NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) detected the asteroid on August 7, revealing its size to be roughly 33 feet in diameter.
Though 2024 PT5 will be pulled into Earth’s orbit, it won’t make a full loop around the planet. According to Dr. Millard, the asteroid’s path will be influenced by Earth’s gravity before it escapes and continues on its course.
Mini-moons are rare but not unheard of. Asteroids like 2024 PT5 occasionally become temporarily trapped by Earth’s gravity, sometimes making repeat visits, as seen with 2022 NX1, which returned in 2022 after first appearing in 1981. For those who miss this mini-moon, there’s another chance—2024 PT5 is expected to return in 2055.
