Earth's 'Second Moon' To Be Visible Today. All About Asteroid 2024 PT5
NDTV
The asteroid, named 2024 PT5, originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains rocks with orbits similar to Earth's.
This autumn, Earth will briefly welcome a new visitor. A small asteroid is set to be caught by the planet's gravitational field, becoming a temporary "mini-moon" from September 29 to November 25 before resuming its journey through space.
The mini-moon's arrival has sparked interest among stargazers and space enthusiasts. Unfortunately, it won't be visible to the naked eye due to its small size and lack of brightness. Even binoculars or home telescopes won't reveal it- professional equipment is needed to catch a glimpse.
According to Dr Jennifer Millard, host of the Awesome Astronomy podcast, professional telescopes will capture images of the mini-moon. "You'll be able to see wonderful pictures online of this little dot speeding past the stars," Millard told the BBC.
