Beginning Sunday, Earth's skies will soon have a temporary visitor.
On September 29, an asteroid dubbed 2024 PT5 will become a "mini-moon" of sorts, temporarily entering Earth's orbit for almost two months before the forces of gravity return it to a vast field of space rocks known as the Arjuna asteroid belt that follows a similar orbital path around the sun as our own home planet.
Scientists discovered the object Aug. 7 using the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System in Sutherland, South Africa during routine monitoring, according to a study published in the journal Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society.
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"Mini-moon" events are when pieces in space like an asteroid or floating pieces of space junk temporarily participate in orbiting the Earth with some completing a full revolution.
In order to be considered a mini-moon, an incoming body must reach Earth at a range around 2.8 million miles (4.5 million km) and at a steady space of about 2,200 mph (3,540 km/h), according to Universidad Complutense de Madrid professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos.
Previous mini-moon events occurred in short-lived mini moon in 1981 and 2022, according to researchers.
Marcos told Space.com earlier this week that the asteroid will enter Earth's orbit at 15:54 ET on Sunday, and depart at 11:43 ET on Nov. 25.
At just 37 feet wide, 2024 PT5's presence in Earth's skies won't be visible unless one is a professional astronomer, or at least has access to a powerful telescope.
"The object is too small and dim for typical amateur telescopes and binoculars. However, the object is well within the brightness range of typical telescopes used by professional astronomers," Marcos told Space.com. "A telescope with a diameter of at least 30 inches plus a CCD or CMOS detector is needed to observe this object; a 30-inch telescope and a human eye behind it will not be enough."
Anthony Robledo contributed to this report.
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at [email protected]
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