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At the end of September, the 2024 PT5 asteroid will approach Earth and become its temporary second satellite for a period of 56 days.
Axar.az informs that it was stated by the Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory named after Nasir al-Din Tusi.
It was reported that the 2024 PT5 asteroid was discovered on August 7 by astronomers at Complutense University in Madrid.
"The asteroid, which is approximately 10 meters long, will enter Earth's gravitational field from September 29 to November 25, becoming its mini moon. However, calculations indicate that the asteroid will not enter a full orbit and will soon return to the Sun's gravitational pull to continue its journey. Unfortunately, the asteroid is very small and dim. With a star magnitude of 27.6, it will be impossible to observe it even with amateur telescopes," the statement noted.
It was emphasized that despite this, the mini satellite has significant scientific importance:
"This event serves as an important example for better understanding near-Earth asteroids, analyzing their movement trajectories, and studying their behavior when they come under Earth's gravity. This information will also play a crucial role in assessing the potential collision risk of other asteroids with Earth in the future, as some asteroids can occasionally reach our planet, and their sizes are not always so small."
Date
2024.09.20 / 17:38
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Author
Axar.az
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