Starting on September 29, Earth will temporarily gain a second natural satellite as asteroid 2024 PT5 is pulled into our planet’s orbit. Discovered in early August by NASA’s ATLAS system, this 33-foot-wide object will become a "mini-moon," orbiting Earth for approximately 56 days before it returns to a sun-centered orbit.
Despite its intriguing presence, asteroid 2024 PT5 will not be visible to the naked eye or even through backyard telescopes due to its small size and low brightness. Nonetheless, this event provides scientists with a unique opportunity to study near-Earth objects and the dynamics of asteroid capture, offering valuable insights into these transient visitors to our planet's vicinity.
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