The universe is full of wonders, and the sky always holds surprises. You never know what might happen. If you look up at the sky tonight, you’ll see only one moon.
However, if you gaze at the night sky after September 29, you’ll witness two moons. This isn’t just a rumor; it has been confirmed by the American Astronomical Society. Let's dive into how this rare event is happening and what impact it will have on Earth.
The moon we're referring to is known as the "Mini Moon." According to the American Astronomical Society, due to a rare astronomical event, Earth is about to get a temporary mini-moon.
This mini-moon will be visible from September 29 to November 25, 2024. To clarify, this temporary mini-moon is actually a meteorite, scientifically known as asteroid 2024 PT5.
Asteroid 2024 PT5 was discovered on August 7, 2024. This asteroid measures around 10 meters in size. Scientists estimate that on September 29, the asteroid will come so close to Earth that it will be captured by Earth's gravity.
After that, it will start orbiting the Earth, much like our moon. Scientists predict that this asteroid will continue orbiting Earth until November 25, 2024, after which it will escape Earth's gravitational pull.
They believe that studying this asteroid will provide valuable insights into Earth's gravity.
The size of this asteroid is not large enough to be seen with the naked eye. In fact, it won't even be visible through regular telescopes. Earth's second "moon" can only be observed using advanced observatories.
This isn't the first time such a celestial event has occurred. Around 44 years ago, a mini-moon was also observed orbiting Earth. However, just like now, it wasn’t possible to see it with the naked eye at that time either.
