Mini-moon around Earth? Is this true?
An asteroid called 2024 PT5, which is approximately the same size as a bus, will orbit around the Earth. The 2024 PT5 is a Near Earth Object (NEO), which will be discussed soon and that help us to understand some basic characteristics of asteroids which reside in the asteroid belt. As of now, the 2024 PT5, a mini-moon that belongs to the Arjuna asteroid belt, will start to orbit Earth in the next week and become a mini-moon; therefore, various aspects, such as asteroid belt and NEOs, will be examined in this article, which will unfold the secret related to mini-moon.
What is an Asteroid belt, and how did it form?
The asteroid belt is a region of space in our solar system that resides between the orbit of Jupiter and Mars, which is described as a torus torus-shaped region where most of the asteroids are orbiting the Sun. Asteroid belt encompasses various solid, irregular-shaped staller bodies, which are recognized as asteroids, and asteroid belt perhaps contains millions of asteroids. It is worth it that celestial bodies that reside in asteroid belts have different sizes; however, mostly, their diameter and length are much smaller than planets.
The asteroid is estimated to contain between 1.1 to 1.9 million asteroids larger than 1 kilometre in diameter and ample smaller ones. In the early solar system, the formation of Jupiter and its gravitational force led to the formation of planetary objects in this region. Likewise, the strong gravitational force of Jupiter causes small celestial objects to collide with one another. This fragments the large celestial bodies into smaller ones, which are called asteroids. On many occasions, comets and asteroids are prodded into Earth’s neighbourhood due to the gravitational force of the nearest planets, and these objects are recognized as Near Earth Objects (NEOs).
Near Earth Objects (NEOs)
Near Earth Objects are comets and asteroids with orbits that bring them within a distance of 120 million miles of the Sun, which implies that such stellar objects can revolve through Earth’s orbital neighbourhood. The orbit of comets and objects is conceptualized by evaluating the elliptical path in space that is suitable for observations, which sometimes span many orbits over decades.
In recent times, many observations have been made; hence, it facilitates renowned space agency NASA to effectively predict when a celestial body like asteroid could come closest proximity to Earth. The “Center for Near Earth Objects” CNEOS is recognized for its competency to accurately characterize and predict the orbits of NEOs, which is turn, crucial for developing effective hazard assessment tactics in support of agencies of “The Planetary Defense Coordination Office” at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
The majority of NEOs have orbits not cause for alarm for Earth since they are generally not very close to the Earth; however, a small portion of them, which are known as potentially hazardous asteroids may pose a risk. Such objects are around 140 meters in size, which often brings them as close as approximately 7.5 million kilometres of Earth’s orbit around the Sun. As a result, CNEOS continuously monitors all recognized NEOs to comprehend and analyze any potential risk of the collision of the asteroids with the Earth.
Mini-moon: Will Earth get a second moon?
The Arjuna asteroids are a dynamic group of asteroids in our solar system. They are also known as near-earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits are more likely to Earth having low inclination and orbit periods close to one year. The idea of a mini-moon around the Earth turns out to be real since the asteroid, which is associated with the Arjuna asteroid belt, will be attracted due to the Earth’s gravitational force, and hence, it will revolve around our planet for two months.
The asteroid that will come from the asteroid belt which is widely recognized Arjuna asteroid belt, which contains several asteroids located 93 million miles away from Earth that adhere to Earth-like orbits, will, in the short term, join the moon orbit around Earth next week and begin a mini-moon. Scientists of NASA discovered this tiny asteroid, which is named 20224 PT5, utilizing the Asteroid Terrestrial Impact Last Alert System in South Africa during regular observation. as per the recent study published in Research Notes of the “American Astronomical Society.” Moreover, asteroid 2024 PT5 will commence its approximately 57 days orbit around the Earth from September 29 till November 25 and become a mini-moon.
FAQ
What is the notion of having a mini-moon?
An asteroid called 2024 PT5, which is approximately the same size of a bus, will orbit around the Earth. The 2024 PT5 is a Near Earth Object (NEO). In addition, 2024 PT5, which belongs to the Arjuna asteroid belt, will start to orbit Earth in the next week and become a mini-moon.
What is the Arjuna asteroid belt?
The Arjuna asteroids are a dynamic group of asteroids in our solar system. They are also known as near-earth objects (NEOs) whose orbits are more likely to Earth having low inclination and orbit periods close to one year. Speculation surrounding the second moon around the Earth turns out to be real since the asteroid, which is associated with the Arjuna asteroid belt, will be attracted due to the Earth’s gravitational force, and hence, it will revolve around our planet for two months.
What are Near Earth Objects?
Near Earth Objects are comets and asteroids with orbits that bring them within a distance of 120 million miles of the Sun, which implies that such stellar objects can revolve through Earth’s orbital neighbourhood. The orbit of comets and objects is conceptualized by evaluating the elliptical path in space that is suitable for observations, which sometimes span many orbits over decades.
