Just days after the skies were lit up by the biggest supermoon of the year, an exciting – and somewhat peculiar – astronomical event is set to occur this week. Earth is set to welcome a new visitor, a small asteroid dubbed 2024 PT5, for a short period of time. It will enter Earth’s orbit this week and stay there for just under two months from September 29. Such asteroids are referred to as mini-moons and they’re not as rare as they sound, according to Space.com. We see them every year although some ‘mini-moons’ have turned out to be space debris like the 2020 mini-moon, which was identified as a discarded rocket booster. However, researchers believe 2024 PT5 is a true asteroid, a small, rocky object that follows a path around the sun. Here’s what you need to know about the astronomical event.
What is a mini-moon?
To put it simply, a mini-moon is a space object that is temporarily held in a planet’s orbit, unlike regular moons that are permanent residents.
When will the asteroid enter Earth’s orbit?
The mini-moon is set to stay from September 29 to November 25 and will return to a path orbiting the sun about 57 days later. This won’t be its final visit though, as it’s predicted to enter Earth’s orbit again in 2055.
Will we be able to see it?
Unfortunately, skygazers and amateur astronomers won’t be able to enjoy this one without professional equipment. It’s far too small and faint for the naked eye but it may be visible with larger telescopes. “A telescope with a diameter of at least 30 inches plus a CCD or CMOS detector are needed to observe this object,” Universidad Complutense de Madrid professor Carlos de la Fuente Marco told Space.com.
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