What is asteroid 2024 PT5 and why it will become Earth’s minimoon

Some near earth objects (NO) They follow trajectories that look like a horseshoes around our planet. When one of these objects gets very close to Earth and moves at low speed, it can happen temporarily trapped by Earth’s gravitymaking them the second satellite to orbit the planet.

During the time the phenomenon lasts—hours, days, or months—the object appears tethered to Earth. However, despite this temporary capture will not perform a full turn around the planet so it doesn’t do exactly what the moon does. That’s why it’s called an action. mini moonand that will soon happen with 2024 PT5small asteroid recently discovered that he is to become a fleeting companion of our planetaccording to scientists after research published in a journal AAS Research Notes.

This asteroid, barely 10 meters longwas discovered on August 7 via Last warning system for an asteroid impact on Earth (ATLAS), a project funded by NASA.

According to the calculations of astronomers between September 29 and November 25 this heavenly body will ascend the only revolution around the earthas explained by the American media The New York Times. After this period of two months, it will be released from Earth’s gravity and continue its trajectory towards space.

Case 2024 PT5 is not unique in recent astronomical history. Unlike Moonwhich has a permanent and stable presence, minimoons They are ephemeral and pass around Tierra only for a short time before being ejected back into space. These heavenly bodiesBesides being small, they tend to move quickly, which makes them difficult to detect and track.

It is not always easy to correctly identify a mini moon. Often, artificial objects such as rocket debris or disused satellites are confused with natural asteroids. For example, a spaceship Gaiafrom European Space Agencydesigned to map the stars, was mistaken for an asteroid at the time, he recalled The New York Times.

However, in case 2024 PT5 Astronomers are sure that it is a natural object. According to Raúl de la Fuente Marcosastronomer from Complutense University of Madrid and co-author of the study, observations of the asteroid confirm that its origin is natural.

“Every time an object with an Earth-like orbit is discovered, there’s a chance we’re simply recreating space junk.” But this asteroid is a natural object, no doubt about it“, an astronomer The New York Times.

These types of events, while infrequent, are valuable to scientists because they allow them to closely study asteroids orbiting Earth, some of which may ultimately affect our planet.

One of the most fascinating aspects 2024 PT5 It is a possible story of its origin. Based on observations of its orbit, some scientists suggest this This small asteroid could be debris ejected from the moonaccording to The New York Times.

Pavel Chodascompany director Center for the Study of Near Earth Objects in it NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratoryassumed that 2024 PT5 According to North American media, it has a chance to be a product of a collision with the moon.

However, other studies point to a different origin due to its trajectory. Researchers like it Carlos de la Fuente Marcosalso from the Complutense University of Madrid, pointed out 2024 PT5 may have come from the Arjuna asteroid belta region of the solar system that, according to scientific media, contains asteroids with orbits similar to Earth’s around the sun Phys Org.

Asteroids in this belt sometimes can ANDget close enough to Tierra be temporarily imprisoned by their gravitationas it seems to be 2024 PT5.

Although its exact origin is not yet fully determined, it is clear that this small asteroid will be a mini moon for earth.