A research team from Complutense University of Madrid has discovered a 10-meter-wide asteroid that will become a “new moon” orbiting Earth from September to November.
In a recently published study in the journal Research Notes of the AAS, experts Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and Raúl de la Fuente Marcos from Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, present the expected trajectory of asteroid 2024 PT5, as reported by Phys on September 13.
Illustration of an asteroid approaching Earth. (Image: Buradaki)
Previous studies have shown that many asteroids have been captured into partial or full elliptical orbits around Earth, only to escape later. For instance, in 2006, a small asteroid orbited Earth for about a year. Another asteroid even orbited Earth for several years before leaving in 2020.
In the new study, the team of experts examined the small asteroid 2024 PT5, which was discovered in August thanks to the Near-Earth Object (NEO) Collision Warning System. Earlier research indicated that this asteroid does not have a collision trajectory with Earth, and they suspect it may be temporarily captured by the planet’s gravity.
The experts also noted that 2024 PT5 is relatively small, with a diameter of only 10 meters. Based on its size, speed, and current trajectory, they calculated the asteroid’s path for the upcoming months and discovered that it will come close enough to be held by Earth’s gravity for several months. Specifically, the small asteroid is expected to orbit Earth for about 53 days, starting in late September and departing in mid-November, thus becoming a “new moon”.
In addition to tracking its trajectory, the researchers also investigated the origin of 2024 PT5. They found that this celestial body likely originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which includes numerous asteroids with orbits similar to that of Earth. They also stated that it is unlikely that 2024 PT5 is space debris, as it exhibits characteristics of a naturally originating object.
