Starting September 29, 2024, Earth will experience a rare cosmic event—a temporary “second moon”—as asteroid 2024 PT5 passes through the planet’s orbit.
Discovered by NASA on August 7, 2024, the asteroid, measuring 33 feet (10 meters) in diameter, is expected to remain in Earth’s orbit for two months, departing on November 24, 2024.
This fascinating phenomenon originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, and while many call it a “second moon,” the asteroid will be too small to see with the naked eye.
According to the American Astronomical Society, objects in the Arjuna asteroid belt are part of the near-Earth object population of asteroids and comets. Under certain conditions, the geocentric energy of the object may become negative, leading it to become a temporary moon of Earth.
ScienceAlert has also noted that a similar event will occur again on November 8, 2055.