Sign In
Learn bits
Science & Tech.
Mahesh

30/09/24 14:25 PM IST

Earth now has two moons, but can you see the 'second moon' from India?

In News
  • Earth has a new, temporary companion in space: a "mini moon" named Asteroid 2024 PT5.
About 2024 PT5
  • Asteroid 2024 PT5 is about 10 metres wide and was first spotted by scientists in Spain this August.
  • It’s expected to orbit Earth for about two months, circling our planet until it breaks free on November 25.
  • Unlike our main Moon, this mini moon won’t complete a full orbit around Earth before heading back into space.
  • This space rock is part of a group of asteroids called the Arjuna asteroid belt, which travels in a similar path around the Sun as Earth does.
  • Mini moons like this aren’t as rare as you might think — there was another one spotted in 2020, but they are small and hard to detect.
  • Only large, professional-grade telescopes can catch a glimpse of 2024 PT5 due to its size and dim appearance.
  • So, unless you’re working with major space equipment, you’ll have to rely on online images from observatories.
Source- Live Mint

More Related Current Affairs View All

08 Jan

Airline pilots’ body calls attention to lithium battery fire risk

'Recently, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) issued three position papers on the fire risk due to the use of lithium-ion batteries in air

Read More

08 Jan

V. Narayanan, who is set to take over as ISRO Chairman

'V. Narayanan, a noted rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, is set to succeed S. Somanath as the next Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).' Dr. Narayanan

Read More

08 Jan

Rat-hole mining

'Several workers have been trapped for more than 12 hours in a coal “rat-hole” mine after it was flooded with water  in Dima Hasao district of Assam.' The rescu

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

Generate Your Custom Current Affairs Magazine using our AI in just 3 steps