Earth is going to get the second moon! Since eternity the satellites of the earth have been one. It can be seen only by looking at the night sky. Yes,it is said about the moon. This world of a moon is going to get its partner. Yes, it sounds strange but two are going to be satellites of the earth for some time.
Astronomers have detected a tiny space rock, only 33 feet long. It's going to be our new moon for a while, trapped in Earth's gravity. The asteroid, known as 2024 PT5, will briefly orbit Earth as its new satellite.
According to a report published in the journal Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society, 2024 PT5 will orbit the Earth from September 29 to November 25, 2024. After that it will again travel to another part of space. During this period it will be known as Earth's small moon, as it will temporarily be in Earth's gravitational field.
Federica Spoto, a researcher at Harvard, said, "This is a very interesting phenomenon." She pointed out that by observing this phenomenon, scientists can get a better understanding of similar space objects and improve methods for detecting dangerous asteroids approaching Earth.
Mini-moons are usually difficult to observe due to their small size and short duration of presence. Sometimes artificial objects such as satellites are also mistaken for such temporary moons. In 2015, the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite was also mistaken for a second moon. But in this case, scientists are sure that 2024 PT5 is a natural object, it is not a space debris.
Raul de la Fuente Marcos, an astronomer at the University of Complutense and co-author of the study, noted that, although it is a natural object, its origin is mysterious. Some experts think 2024 PT5 may be part of Earth's natural moon, making it even more mysterious. Despite this temporary appearance, 2024 PT5 may be more than just an interesting cosmic event. Mini-moons may contain valuable materials such as metals, which may one day be extracted by space mining.
Although the asteroid will miss Earth, it will pass by Earth again in January and again in 2055. This reminds us of the strange and changing nature of space.
#AryaWritingContest
I am a housewife. My mobile number 9903173777