Topline Earth will temporarily get a second moon next week when a tiny asteroid begins its two month orbit around the planet, though researchers say the space rock likely won’t be visible without the help of a professional telescope. Key Facts When Will The Mini-Moon Orbit Earth? Asteroid 2024 PT5 will begin its roughly 57-day orbit around Earth on September 29, and it will end on November 25. What Is A Mini-Moon? When asteroids approach Earth, they typically either fly by the planet, or they hit it and leave a streak in the sky or a dent in Earth’s crust.
However, in more rare cases they are captured by Earth’s gravitational pull, becoming a mini-moon, according to the Planetary Society. Mini-moons orbit Earth for a short timeframe, typically less than a year on average. In order to be considered a mini-moon, a space body must reach Earth at a range about 2.
8 million miles and at a steady space of around 2,200 mph, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, the study’s lead author and professor at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, told Space.com. Once 2024 PT5 completes its orbit, it will return to the Arjuna asteroid belt.
Can You See The Mini-Moon? Unfortunately, the mini-moon won’t be visible by the naked eye due to its size, according to the study. The asteroid is also “too small and dim for typical amateur telescopes and binoculars,” according to Marcos. Professional-grade telescopes with a diameter of at least 30 inches and a charge coupled-device or complementary meta.