Asteroid 2024 PT-5

According to the American Astronomical Society, asteroid ‘2024 PT5’ can orbit the Earth between September 29 and November 25, 2024. However, due to its extreme faintness, it cannot be seen without the help of any instrument.

About Asteroid 2024 PT5

• The mini-moon, 2024 PT5 asteroid has been recently observed by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on August 7.
• This celestial body with a diameter of 10 meters (33 feet) has orbital characteristics similar to the asteroids of the Arjuna asteroid belt.
  • The Arjuna asteroid belt shares an orbit around the Sun similar to that of the Earth.
• During its orbit of 53 days around the Earth, it will not make a full rotation but will make a horseshoe-shaped detour before moving away from the gravitational influence of the Earth.

What are mini-moons 

• Some asteroids deviate from their trajectory under the influence of Earth's gravity and orbit the Earth for some time. These asteroids are called 'mini-moons'. 
  • These small, fast-moving asteroids are difficult to detect and identify.
• The Earth tries to pull the asteroids into its orbit with its gravitational force. In such a situation, the asteroids make one or more complete revolutions around our planet, like the Moon. Many times the asteroids get separated from the Earth's elliptical path even before completing the orbit.