Asteroid PT5 was discovered on August 7th. Photo Courtesy of CBC
Earth will obtain a second moon on September 29, 2024. NASA has been monitoring an asteroid that is set to enter Earth’s orbit and occupy as a second moon. NASA has classified this meteor as PT5. Earth’s gravitational force will attract 2024 PT5 towards it, causing it to orbit our planet similar to our moon. Although other meteors have entered Earth’s orbit before, this is the first time it will occupy Earth as a mini-moon. For PT5, it is expected to be captured by Earth from Sept. 29, 2024, to Nov. 25, 2024. After that, it will remain near Earth until around Jan. 9, 2025.
“I think that it is awesome that we can see a second moon for about a month,” senior Likhith Garikapati. “As an avid space fan, I am going to cherish the next month and take as many pictures as I can with my telescope.”
NASA is continuing to track its movements to see if the meteor might fall out of orbit sooner.
