A Tiny Visitor:
Earth is getting a tiny new "mini-moon" this autumn called 2024 PT5! It's about the size of a school bus—only 33 feet (10 meters) wide
Not Here Forever:
This little asteroid will orbit Earth for just two months (from September 29 to November 25) before it leaves to continue its journey around the Sun.
Can We See It?
Unfortunately, it’s too small and dim for us to see with our eyes or regular telescopes. Scientists need special, powerful equipment to spot it.
Mini-Moons Are Rare! :
Earth sometimes captures these tiny asteroids, but they don’t stay for long. The last mini-moon visited in 2022 and stayed for just a few months
A "Flyby" Moon:
Unlike our real Moon, which orbits us every month, this mini-moon will zip past without completing even one full loop around Earth
Did you know?
Even though it’s called a "mini-moon," it won’t look anything like our big, glowing Moon. It’s a tiny asteroid that won’t be visible to the naked eye!