Asteroid captured by Earth in 2024 may have been a part of the moon, will return again

In 2024, astronomers observed a small asteroid named 2024 PT5 near Earth. Initially thought to be a ‘mini-moon,’ this space rock has now turned out to be more intriguing than expected. A recent study theorised that this space rock may have been a part of the moon.

2024 PT5, measuring about 10 meters wide, was first detected on August 7, 2024, by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS). The asteroid followed a horseshoe orbit, getting close to Earth from September 29 to November 25, 2024.

As per a study published in Astrophysical Journal Letters on January 14, researchers discovered that 2024 PT5 likely originated from the Moon. It may have been ejected out of the moon's surface during an asteroid impact and was drifting around in space before coming close to Earth and being pulled by its gravity.

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The asteroid's composition is rich in silicate minerals, similar to lunar rocks, suggesting that it was ejected from the Moon after an impact thousands of years ago. Further, its unusual path, orbiting the Sun almost in step with Earth, supports this theory.

BREAKING 🚨: Earth’s temporary mini-moon, 2024 PT5, is leaving orbit today and is expected to return in 2055

Astronomers believe it could be a lost fragment of the Moon 🌑 pic.twitter.com/5FOALmZ864

— Latest in space (@latestinspace) November 25, 2024

During its visit, Teddy Kareta, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory, and his team observed 2024 PT5 closely. By studying reflected sunlight patterns, they found that the asteroid closely resembled rocks from the Moon, rather than typical asteroids.

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Additionally, scientists at NASA's Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) measured solar radiation pressure on the asteroid. Their findings indicated that 2024 PT5 is much denser than space debris, ruling out the possibility of it being human-made.

2024 PT5 or ‘mini-moon’ is expected to return to Earth's vicinity in 2055.