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The ‘Mini Moon’ Has Disappeared

Mitali k

As previously reported, an asteroid nicknamed as the Earth’s ‘mini moon’ was flying close to the planet for several months. However, it has now disappeared into space. The small 10m wide asteroid, also known as 2024 PT5, was first spotted in August. This asteroid never fully entered the Earth’s orbit, but flew round the Earth in a horse shoe shape.

 

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Scientists think that this asteroid could even be a part of the Moon that broke off during a collision. According to scientists, it is moved away from the Earth due to the Sun’s strong gravitational pull. The mini moon is expected to make a brief and closer pass in January 2025, before it fully disappears again for a lap around the sun. It is expected to reappear in 2055!

Also Read India Scripts Lunar History

Earth Gets A Second Mini Moon

Mitali k

The Moon has a temporary junior companion and Earth has a second mini moon for a short time! A small asteroid was captured by the Earth’s gravity on September 29 and will orbit our planet until November 25, 2024.

 

Also Read Female Astronauts Fly Further Than Ever Before

 

This asteroid called 2024 PT5, was spotted on August 7 by scientists using the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System, a NASA-funded asteroid impact early warning system. 

 

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indianexpress.com

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Even though 2024 PT5 will act like a mini-moon, we will not be able to see it because it is very small. This mini moon is only 10m wide. During its short 53 days tenure around the Earth, 2024 PT5 will not be able to make a full orbit, instead it will  perform a horseshoe loop before breaking away from the Earth’s gravitational pull.

 

Watch Full Video On #IndiaOnMoon : Over the Moon – Chandrayaan -3