For two months, asteroid 2024 PT5 has been following Earth like a mini-moon , temporarily trapped in an orbit following a horseshoe trajectory . This phenomenon, first detected in August, had been anticipated as an unusual event for 2024, capturing the attention of astronomers and astrophysicists around the world.
The farewell of 2024 PT5
In September, when its orbital interaction began, this asteroid was announced as a temporary satellite that would remain nearby until the end of November. According to the initial news, the asteroid, barely 10 meters in diameter , was expected to provide unique opportunities for the study of space fragments and their relationship to lunar formation.
Now, as the moon bids farewell to Earth’s gravity and continues its journey around the Sun, scientists are preparing to take another look at it in January . The celestial body could return in 2055 for another close encounter, according to orbital projections.
Return in January and the future of the minimoon
NASA will use the Goldstone radar antenna to track 2024 PT5 during its January approach. This analysis, led in collaboration with Spanish scientists, hopes to clarify whether the asteroid is indeed a fragment of the Moon , possibly the result of a past impact.
Raúl and Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, from the Complutense University of Madrid, have pointed out that the increased speed of the asteroid during its next visit (twice that recorded in September) will make it difficult for Earth’s gravity to capture it. Nevertheless, this event represents a crucial opportunity to investigate the shared history of near-Earth space objects.
The brief companionship of asteroid 2024 PT5 offers the scientific community a valuable window into the cosmic past. Its farewell marks the beginning of a new chapter in its exploration, as the world awaits its return in the future.
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Source: abc News
Photo: Shuterstock
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