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Time of India
06-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Scientists discover new minimoons orbiting Earth – what could this mean for our planet's future
For years, the space near Earth was assumed to be fairly well known, particularly in terms of detecting near-Earth objects (NEOs) like asteroids and debris. That perception is being turned on its head by new discoveries. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to a recent paper published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, there could be an undiscovered population of " minimoons "—small natural satellites—around Earth. And what is interesting about these objects is that some of them seem to be debris from the Moon itself. The research highlights the recently identified object 2024 PT5 , an asteroid-like body that shows lunar-like features such as orbital properties and compositional similarities with Moon rock. This finding by planetary scientist Teddy Kareta and his Lowell Observatory team opens up the thrilling possibility that numerous other such pieces are orbiting Earth in silence, leftovers from old lunar impacts. What are minimoons and their role in space science Minimoons are minor bodies temporarily held in Earth's gravity. In contrast to the Moon, which is a natural permanent satellite, minimoons have transient orbits—occasionally staying within the gravitational clutches of Earth for weeks, months, or years before finally breaking free again into solar orbit. Until recently, these objects were thought to be very rare. The first clearly established minimoon of possible lunar origin, Kamo'oalewa, was found in 2021. With the discovery of 2024 PT5, the story is emerging. Researchers are starting to see these objects not as oddities, but as possible members of a larger population that hasn't been seen because they are too small and have too complicated, changing orbits. New evidence suggests 2024 PT5 could be a piece of the moon The identification of 2024 PT5 is especially noteworthy due to its possible lunar origin. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Its path and spectral character—a method of determining an object's composition from the manner in which it scatters light—effectively mimic those of rocks brought back to Earth by NASA's Apollo missions. This heavily indicates that PT5 could be a piece that was ejected from the surface of the Moon, perhaps by a meteoric impact. Teddy Kareta emphasised the importance of the discovery at the 56th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, saying: 'If there were only one object, that would be interesting but an outlier. If there's two, we're pretty confident that's a population.' In other words, the confirmation of a second minimoon with lunar properties supports the idea that such objects are more common than previously believed. Understanding lunar debris: How high-energy impacts send moon fragments into Earth's orbit Lunar debris is usually created through high-energy impact events, in which meteoroids collide with the lunar surface and send debris into space. A portion of this debris may fall into the Earth's sphere of gravitational influence, becoming temporarily captured. They have chaotic, highly elliptical orbits that set them apart from both standard NEOs and Earth's main Moon. Simulations and tracking models imply that these fragments can be trapped for a few months to a few years, after which they will burn up in Earth's atmosphere, escape Earth's gravity, or be deflected by subsequent gravitational encounters. What minimoons can reveal The implications of minimoons from a scientific perspective are significant. Minimoons provide a one-of-a-kind chance to investigate the Moon's impact record without sending complex sample-return missions to the surface of the Moon. By analysing the composition of the minimoons, scientists can determine the nature of the rock, the age of the rock, and possibly trace it to a particular crater or region of geology on the Moon. This could greatly improve the knowledge of: Geological evolution of the Moon Rate and magnitude of lunar impact events Orbital dynamics of Earth-Moon interactions Kareta compared it to forensic science by saying: "It's like discovering a crime scene has a completely new type of evidence you didn't realise you had before." These pieces are actually natural sample-return missions already underway. From sample return to space mining: The strategic value of minimoons Aside from academic curiosity, minimoons also have significant potential for future missions of exploration. Because they are close and relatively slow-moving relative to other NEOs, they are prime targets for: Robotic spacecraft missions Sample return programs Experimentation with navigation and landing technologies for asteroid mining or deep space missions They provide a valuable stepping stone to deep-space exploration while also facilitating new types of resource analysis and planetary defense testing. 2024 PT5 highlights the need for advanced detection methods The detection of 2024 PT5 emphasises the necessity of more sensitive sky surveys and special observation programs. The majority of existing asteroid detection systems are optimized for discovering larger, brighter objects. Minimoons, being small and faint, need different methods and continuous monitoring in order to be discovered. The development of this capability would greatly improve our knowledge of not just minimoons, but also the dynamic interaction between Earth and its cosmic environment. Also Read |
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Here's How to Watch the Rare Total Lunar Eclipse This Week
Originally appeared on E! Online Get ready, night owls. The first total lunar eclipse, also known as the Blood Worm Moon, will fully light up the sky soon—and fortunately, viewers can watch the phenomenon happen in real time. This year's celestial event won't be a quick one, so don't fill your schedule too much. The eclipse, which happens when the moon glows in a red-orange hue after passing by the darkest part of Earth's shadow, will start in the late hours of March 13 and reach its peak color on March 14, per NASA. More from E! Online Man Allegedly Stabs 18-Year-Old Man to Death After Finding Him In Bed With His Wife Christina Haack Celebrates Her Special 12-Year Milestone With Boyfriend Christopher Larocca Sudiksha Konanki Case: Person of Interest Identified by US Officials Amid Search for Missing Student Its totality will last for about 66 minutes, and will visibly shine across the Western Hemisphere, including North America, South America, Europe and Africa. (Hawaii and some parts of Alaska will miss the beginning of the penumbral phase—when the moon starts entering the Earth's outer shadow—but will be able to witness the rest of the event, according to Unlike the solar eclipse, which has to be viewed with special glasses to keep the eyes safe, this new celestial moment can be seen with the naked eye—or through binoculars, if viewers want a closer look. NASA recommends observing the eclipse in a dark spot away from bright lights. For those that can't watch the blood moon in-person, noted that several different livestreams will catch the event in full. These various options are necessary, considering this lunar eclipse is special. In fact, it'll mark the first time in three years since the moon glimmered in its scarce hue in 2022, and the next one won't appear again until 2026. The Blood Worm isn't the last rare occasion to grace the sky, as a new moon was pulled into the Earth's orbit last September. At the time, the phenomenon—known as an asteroid named 2024 PT5—was first spotted by NASA's Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) initiative in early August, who calculated the floating rock's journey would last nearly two months. For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Express Tribune
29-01-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
Tiny space rock confirmed as lunar fragment after two-month Earth stay
Listen to article 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.
