NASA's Animation Reveals "Earth's Mini Moon"-Asteroid 2024 PT5's Orbit Near Earth

NASA recently shared an intriguing glimpse of asteroid 2024 PT5, a small near-Earth object with a unique orbit. Captured in a 53-second animation, the video depicts the asteroid’s journey around the Sun between December 31, 2023, and September 9, 2025, compressed to play at a speed about a million times faster than real time. This asteroid has drawn attention because of its close proximity to Earth, though there’s no need for concern—it does not pose a hazard to our planet.

Discovered on August 7, 2024, by the University of Hawaii's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) using a telescope in Sutherland, South Africa, asteroid 2024 PT5 is approximately 33 feet (10 meters) wide. Although it follows a similar orbit to Earth, it will merely linger as a "distant companion" over the next few months. Importantly, the asteroid will not be captured by Earth's gravity and will continue on its path around the Sun.

The animation offers an exciting way to visualize how these space objects move in relation to our planet, highlighting NASA’s ongoing efforts to monitor and understand the behavior of near-Earth asteroids. By studying these small but intriguing objects, scientists can learn more about the dynamic environment of our solar system and refine asteroid detection techniques, ensuring the safety of our planet from potential future impacts.

The animation is a reminder of the vastness of space and the complex dance of celestial objects in our cosmic neighborhood. Thanks to advanced observation tools like ATLAS, humanity can keep a close eye on these space rocks, maintaining awareness of any future encounters with our planet.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech