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The Earth has acquired a temporary 'mini moon' in the form of an asteroid named '2024 PT5'. This celestial body, roughly the size of a school bus, was discovered on August 7, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), a NASA-funded program based in Hawaii. ATLAS diligently monitors near-Earth asteroids, and its discovery of '2024 PT5' has garnered considerable attention.
The asteroid's close approach to Earth on September 29th, 2024, resulted in it being temporarily captured by our planet's gravity. This gravitational pull will keep the asteroid in orbit around Earth for a period of 57 days, giving us a unique opportunity to observe a celestial dance between our planet and a miniature celestial companion. However, this dual-moon arrangement is destined to be fleeting. By late November, the asteroid will escape Earth's gravitational pull and continue its solitary journey through deep space.
The '2024 PT5' is of particular interest due to its association with the Arjuna asteroid group. This group, named after the valiant archer Arjuna from the epic Mahabharata, is known for its swift movement and unpredictable nature. This parallels the asteroid's rapid traversal of the solar system and its temporary capture by Earth's gravity. The asteroid's size, measuring just 10 meters in diameter, makes it extremely small compared to Earth's regular moon, with a diameter of 3,476 km. This means specialized equipment is needed to detect it.
The concept of 'mini moons' isn't entirely new. Scientists have noted similar instances in 1997, 2013, and 2018, where asteroids temporarily entered Earth's orbit, exhibiting 'mini-moon' behavior. This phenomena is attributed to the gravitational interaction between Earth and these small celestial bodies. As '2024 PT5' prepares to depart Earth's gravitational embrace on November 25th, it's expected to return for another close encounter in 2055. This provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study its trajectory and properties, further enriching our understanding of near-Earth objects and their interaction with our planet.
Source: Earth gets a ‘mini moon’ for 2 months and it has a Mahabharata connection