This month, Earth will temporarily capture a second moon, the tiny asteroid 2024 PT5, which will stay for about two months before returning to its orbit around the sun. Identified by scientists studying “mini-moon events,” 2024 PT5 belongs to the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains near-Earth objects with orbits similar to Earth’s. These objects can approach Earth closely and at low velocities, sometimes becoming temporary moons. 2024 PT5 will not complete a full orbit around Earth, acting more like a “window shopper” than a true satellite.
- Sebastian Hawthorne
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