Scientists have confirmed that Earth has temporarily captured a “second moon”—a tiny asteroid named 2024 PT5. This asteroid, measuring about 37 feet wide, was pulled into Earth’s orbit on September 29, 2024. Although it sounds extraordinary, these “mini-moon” events are more common than one might think. Asteroids like 2024 PT5, which belong to the Arjuna asteroid belt, can occasionally be drawn into Earth’s gravitational field due to their close orbits and relatively slow velocities.
This specific mini-moon will not remain with Earth for long. According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 2024 PT5 will break free from Earth’s gravity and continue its journey around the sun by November 25, 2024. During its brief stay, the asteroid will not complete a full orbit around Earth but will instead resemble a “window shopper,” according to Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, an expert on mini-moons.
