2024 PT5: A Temporary “Mini-Moon” of Earth
In late September 2024, the Earth temporarily captured the small asteroid 2024 PT5, allowing it to orbit the planet for two months before it escapes into space, highlighting the rarity of such mini-moons.
What is a ‘Mini-Moon’?
- Mini-moons are asteroids that become temporarily captured by Earth’s gravity.
- They are typically small and difficult to detect; only four have been discovered so far, none of which are currently orbiting Earth.
- Some objects mistakenly identified as mini-moons include space debris and rocket stages.
2024 PT5: Details
- It measures approximately 33 feet long, making it invisible to the naked eye and typical amateur telescopes.
- Detected using ....
Do You Want to Read More?
Subscribe Now
To get access to detailed content
Already a Member? Login here
Take Annual Subscription and get the following Advantage
The annual members of the Civil Services Chronicle can read the monthly content of the magazine as well as the Chronicle magazine archives.
Readers can study all the material since 2018 of the Civil Services Chronicle monthly issue in the form of Chronicle magazine archives.
Science & Technology
- 1 Thermal Imaging Operations by ISRO’s EOS-08 Satellite
- 2 India’s Venus Orbiter Mission
- 3 ABHED: India’s Cutting-Edge Bulletproof Jacket
- 4 Indigenous Light Tank 'Zorawar'
- 5 India Launches Three Indigenous Supercomputers
- 6 IISc Develops Brain-Like AI Computing Platform
- 7 INCOIS Unveils ‘Integrated Ocean Energy Atlas’
- 8 New Nanomaterial Tackles Heavy Metal Contamination
- 9 IISc Develops Light-Charged Supercapacitor Technology
- 10 ISRO’s Third SSLV Launch: A Milestone for India's Space Program