Earth's second moon to leave soon and won't be back until 2055; here's exact date and time when it will break free

On September 29, 2024, our mother Earth welcomed a temporary ‘mini-moon’ which was officially designated as Asteroid 2024 PT5. According to The U.S. Sun, the asteroid which was discovered by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on August 7 measures approximately 33 feet wide and will remain in Earth's orbit for about two months before departing on November 25, 2024.

In spite of its size which is significantly smaller than Earth's actual moon, it genuinely poses no hazard to our planet. Asteroid 2024 PT5 hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt and follows an Earth-like orbit, reported The U.S. Sun.

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While mini-moons are not particularly rare, they are extremely challenging to detect due to their faintness while eminent experts note that many small asteroids could be orbiting Earth unnoticed at any given time. To observe PT5, astronomers actually recommend using telescopes with a diameter of at least 30 inches, asserted The U.S. Sun.

NASA scientists believe that the asteroid's motion suggests it is of natural origin rather than being a remnant of human activity and this event actually provides valuable insights into near-Earth objects and enhances our understanding of detection techniques. The U.S. Sun noted that the next expected encounter with this mini-moon will be in the year 2055 while making this a unique opportunity for scientific observation.

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FAQs:

When was the new mini moon of earth discovered by NASA and how long will it stay in the orbit of earth?
The asteroid which was discovered by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) on August 7 measures approximately 33 feet wide and will remain in Earth's orbit for about two months before departing on November 25, 2024.

Asteroid 2024 PT5 actually belongs from which asteroid belt?
Asteroid 2024 PT5 hails from the Arjuna asteroid belt and follows an Earth-like orbit.