As Obi Wan Kenobi said in Star Wars: A New Hope, “that’s no moon.” Though what we’re about to see is a mini-moon.
The official name for this asteroid is 2024 P-T-5. It will approach Earth beginning September 29 and remain in orbit around us, for almost two months. The rock is about 35 feet in diameter and will travel in a horseshoe path around Earth - but don’t fret - this asteroid won’t be a threat to your safety, scientists say 2024 P-T-5 is not on track to collide with Earth.
After leaving Earth’s orbit around November 25, the asteroid will return to its regular orbit around the sun, and is predicted to return to circle around us again.
In about 31 years.
Unfortunately this mini-moon will be too small and dim to be observed by the naked eye or amateur telescopes. Scientists, however, will be studying Earth’s new celestial neighbor through their Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System, a project that helped them predict 2024 P-T-5′s upcoming activity in the first place.
In order to be captured in Earth’s orbit, asteroids must approach Earth at slow speeds and close range. To be classified as a mini moon, a body must make a full orbit around Earth which means 2024 P-T-5 with it’s horseshoe orbit will technically not qualify. However scientists note the object is still among the largest objects ever captured by Earth’s gravity.
The first recorded mini-moon was in 1991, and just two years ago was the last visit from a mini-moon in Earth’s orbit. This has been an active time for the solar system, as Los Angeles witnessed a harvest supermoon and a partial lunar eclipse just last week! For about an hour on Tuesday night, people across L.A. were able to see a portion of the moon darkened by the Earth’s shadow.