Asteroid 2024 PT5, nicknamed the “mini moon,” was temporarily captured by Earth’s gravity from September 29 to November 25. Discovered on August 7, this bus-sized asteroid will not return until 2055. Despite its close approach, it was invisible to the naked eye due to its size and dimness.

BulletsIn

• Asteroid 2024 PT5 is only 37 feet long, about the size of a bus.
• Became a “mini moon” briefly, orbiting Earth from September 29 to November 25.
• The asteroid is 3,760,000 km from Earth, relatively close in space terms.
• Discovered on August 7, 2024, by a NASA-funded telescope in South Africa.
• Likely originated from the Arjuna asteroid belt, 93 million miles from the Sun.
• May be a fragment of Earth’s Moon from an ancient impact.
• Visible only through professional telescopes due to its small size and dimness.
• Does not pose any threat to Earth, per NASA’s observations.
• Will reappear in Earth’s vicinity in 2055.