You read that right! This month, we’ll have a second moon orbiting the earth. But don’t worry–there’s nothing dangerous about it. Keep scrolling to learn all about the mini moon!
What exactly is the mini moon?
The second moon is actually a tiny asteroid named 2024 PT5. But it’s actually quite different from our beloved moon!
According to Space.com,
Unlike the moon, Earth’s primary companion which has accompanied our planet for around 4 billion years, this “new mini-moon” will stick around for just two months before it heads back to its home in an asteroid belt trailing our planet and orbiting the sun.
Where is the mini moon coming from?
According to Space.com, the team of scientists who identified this asteroid say that it’s coming from the Arjuna asteroid belt.
Research lead author and Universidad Complutense de Madrid professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos told Space.com:
Under these conditions, the geocentric energy of the object may grow negative, and the object may become a temporary moon of Earth. This particular object will undergo this process starting next week and for about two months… It will not follow a full orbit around Earth.
How long will we have a mini moon?
Unfortunately, we won’t get to keep this new mini moon for very long.
According to a report by CBS News
Earth’s gravitational pull will draw 2024 PT5 towards it and, much like our moon, it will orbit our planet — but only for 56.6 days.
When will I be able to see the mini moon in the sky?
After leaving Earth’s orbit, the mini moon will stay near our planet for a few months, before drifting off. The closest it is expected to get is on Jan. 9, 2025.
So will you be able to see it? Unfortunately no. You will not be able to see the mini moon with an at-home telescope, and definitely not with the naked eye. But you’ll know that it’s up there, circling our planet!
How big is the mini moon?
We’ve heard slightly different measurements of the asteroid, but according to NPR,
Writing this month in the journal Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society, scientists estimate the asteroid is 33 feet long – about the size of a bus.
As we know more, we’ll continue to update ya! But the most important take-aways are that there is NO danger from this mini moon, and it’s just a cool little celestial fun fact!