NASA scientists have determined that Earth will temporarily capture a “second moon,” the tiny asteroid 2024 PT5, on September 29. This “mini-moon” usually orbits the sun within a small asteroid belt that follows Earth. Unlike Earth’s long-term moon, this asteroid will only stay until November 25. The asteroid belongs to the Arjuna asteroid belt, which consists of near-Earth objects with orbits similar to Earth’s. Such gravitational capture events are common, with some Arjuna objects approaching Earth closely and at low velocities.

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