Science!

September 19, 2024 at 5:40 p.m. ET
For the next two months, an unusual object about the size of a bus will be orbiting above our heads. Say hello to Earth’s temporary new mini-moon.


From Sept. 29 to Nov. 25, a passing asteroid will be pulled in by Earth’s gravity — sort of like a window shopper — before returning to its normal orbit around the sun.

Objects that get captured by our gravitational force for a short time are known as mini-moons.

This one, named asteroid 2024 PT5, came from the Arjuna asteroid belt near our sun, about 93 million miles away.
Of course, you won’t really be able to “say hello” without a professional telescope.

At 33 feet long, the mini-moon is too mini for our eyes. Its closest approach is still five times farther than our permanent, non-mini moon.

That challenge, though, makes it all the more exciting that scientists are able to detect the tiny rock in the first place…….

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/09/19/earth-second-mini-moon-asteroid/