The Earth received a new ‘mini-moon’ at the end of September. This rare phenomenon It was a small asteroid called 2024 PT5 which was trapped by our planet’s gravity, but, unlike the Moon, quickly passed through our orbit before returning to the asteroid belt orbiting the Sun.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 was detected by a team of scientists from the Complutense University of Madrid, specialized in the study of these events, who continuously monitor near-Earth objects in search of unusual behavior; Additionally, using advanced astronomical observation technology, these researchers identified the dynamic properties of the asteroid. However, a recent NASA study reveals that 2024 PT5 could be a large chunk of rock ejected from the Moon’s surface after an asteroid impact.
What exactly is 2024 PT5?
Yes ok It’s not exactly a ‘mini-moon’2024 PT5 is an “interesting object” and NASA plans to track it with the Goldstone Solar System Radar in January 2025.
According to the American space agency, this phenomenon has a movement similar to that of the Earth around the Sun, is about ten meters wide, does not represent a danger to the Earth and will remain as a “distant companion of our planet” for a few months, keeping in mind that “it will never be captured by Earth’s gravity.”
On the other hand, its next close pass to the blue planet will be in January next year and, at that time, it will be five times further from Earth than the Moon. Furthermore, it will leave the vicinity of the Earth as it continues its orbit around the sun.
First observed on August 7, 2024 by the Sutherland (South Africa) telescope of the University of Hawaii’s Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), it has been determined to be most likely 2024 PT5 is of natural origin for its movement.
#Moon #NASA #believes #asteroid #orbits #piece #lunar #soil
