Earth will temporarily capture a small asteroid, approximately 10 meters wide, named 2024 PT5. According to study, it was discovered on August 7, 2024, during routine monitoring.
From September 29 to November 25, 2024, Earth's gravity will pull the moon-like asteroid into its orbit, making it a "mini-moon."
This asteroid belongs to the Arjuna asteroids, which have orbits similar to Earth's and are characterized by their low eccentricity and velocity.
Unfortunately, the asteroid will be too dim for most people to see with naked eyes.. Its brightness is around magnitude 22, meaning only professional-grade telescopes can view it.
According to space.com, “A telescope with a diameter of at least 30 inches plus a CCD or CMOS detector are needed to observe this object”
Similar events have occurred before, with the asteroid named as 2022 NX1, which was temporarily captured in both 1981 and 2022.
After this close pass, 2024 PT5 will make another appearance on Earth on Jan 9, 2025, but won’t return until 2055