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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on October 02, 2024

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MINI MOON  2024 PT5

For Prelims Examination: Current events of national and international importance

For Mains Examination: GS III - Science & Technology

Context:

An asteroid named 2024 PT5 has been captured by Earth’s gravitational pull and will revolve around the planet between September 29 and November 25. It was discovered by a team of scientists on August 7, and their findings were published in the journal “Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society” in September.

Read about:

What is Mini Moon 2024 pt5?

What are Mini Moon events?

Key takeaways:

• In late September 2024, Earth is expected to temporarily capture a small asteroid, designated 2024 PT5, as a "mini-moon." This celestial body, about 10 meters wide, will orbit Earth for a brief period, from September 29 to November 25, before being pulled away by the Sun’s gravity. This phenomenon occurs when a Near-Earth Object (NEO) gets caught by Earth's gravitational field, creating a temporary satellite.
• 2024 PT5 originated from the Arjuna asteroid belt, and this is not the first time such an event has happened. Similar temporary moons have been documented in the past, like in 2022 with asteroid 2022 NX1.
• Although the mini-moon is too small and dim to be easily observed by amateur astronomers, professionals with larger telescopes can track its orbit. After its temporary stay, 2024 PT5 is expected to return to a solar orbit and could potentially be recaptured in the future, with astronomers predicting possible reappearances in 2025 and 2055.
• This fascinating event underscores how Earth's gravitational pull occasionally interacts with nearby objects, giving us temporary companions in space. Despite initial concerns, 2024 PT5 poses no risk of impacting Earth.

 Mini Moon Events

A "mini-moon" event occurs when a small Near-Earth Object (NEO) or asteroid is temporarily captured by Earth's gravitational field, becoming a short-term natural satellite. These mini-moons are typically small in size—often just a few meters wide—and they orbit Earth for a limited time, ranging from a few months to a couple of years, before being pulled back into orbit around the Sun due to gravitational interactions.

Mini-moons are rare because of the specific conditions required for an object to be captured. Most NEOs pass by Earth without being affected, but occasionally, one is caught by Earth’s gravity. While in orbit, these objects behave like small, secondary moons, though they are much smaller than our primary Moon.

Some notable mini-moons include:

• 2006 RH120: One of the first mini-moons discovered, which orbited Earth from 2006 to 2007.
• 2020 CD3: Detected in 2020, this asteroid orbited Earth for around three years before leaving Earth's orbit.
• 2024 PT5: Expected to orbit Earth from September to November 2024, this asteroid will briefly act as a mini-moon before continuing its journey in space.

Although mini-moons are generally too small to pose any threat to Earth, they are of great interest to astronomers and scientists. These objects provide opportunities for studying NEOs, and they may one day serve as targets for spacecraft missions or exploration. Mini-moons also offer insights into the dynamics of asteroid capture and orbital mechanics