Tiny space rock confirmed as lunar fragment after two-month Earth stay
A space rock that spent two months tagging along with Earth as a "mini-moon" has been revealed to be a fragment of our very own moon.
The object, named 2024 PT5, was discovered on August 7 and lingered in Earth's gravitational pull from September 29 to November 25. Despite its small size—just 33 feet in diameter—it went largely unnoticed by even the most powerful telescopes.
Initially, scientists speculated that the mini-moon could be a piece of the moon that was knocked off during an asteroid impact. Further research has confirmed this theory, with astronomer Teddy Kareta from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona pointing to silicate materials found on the object, which are commonly associated with the moon.
The mini-moon's unique composition and behavior suggested it wasn't an ordinary asteroid but rather a piece of lunar rock that made an occasional appearance in Earth's orbit. According to Kareta, the object was likely dislodged from the moon only a few thousand years ago.
The mini-moon is set to depart Earth's orbit on Monday, drawn away by the stronger pull of the sun's gravity, but it will return for a brief visit in January. Its next return to our skies won't occur until 2055, giving scientists plenty of time to improve their telescopes in preparation.
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