Planet Earth is bidding farewell to a celestial customer, asteroid 2024 PT5, which has been following a “mini moon” trajectory for the previous two months. The asteroid, measuring about 33 toes (10 meters) in diameter, will break free from Earth’s gravitational affect on Monday, drawn by the stronger pull of the solar.
Although not technically a moon—NASA clarifies it was by no means absolutely captured by Earth’s gravity—the asteroid has intrigued scientists. It first got here beneath Earth’s affect in late September, transferring in a horseshoe-shaped path. Spotted in August, it presently lies greater than 2 million miles (3.5 million kilometers) away, too small and faint to be seen with out highly effective telescopes.
Astrophysicists Raul and Carlos de la Fuente Marcos of Complutense University of Madrid have carefully tracked 2024 PT5, collaborating with Canary Islands telescopes for tons of of observations. They imagine the asteroid could be a lunar boulder ejected by an historical influence occasion.
The asteroid will make a short return in January, zipping previous Earth at a protected distance of 1.1 million miles (1.8 million kilometers)—nearly 5 occasions farther than the moon. By then, it will likely be touring greater than double its September velocity, making certain it doesn’t linger. NASA plans to make use of the Goldstone photo voltaic system radar antenna in California to review the item intimately throughout its weeklong go to.
After its shut strategy in January, 2024 PT5 will proceed orbiting the solar, to not return till 2055, when it might as soon as once more carry out a partial lap round Earth. Scientists are keen to collect extra knowledge throughout its upcoming encounter to raised perceive this intriguing interloper.
