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 Aug

Concerns about Sulphur Dioxide

'Recently, the government decided to scale back its 2015 mandate requiring coal-based thermal plants to install flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) devices (clean-air equipment) that r

Read More

08 Aug

Prime Minister Internship Scheme

'Based on the review of the two pilot phases carried out for the PM Internship Scheme (PMIS), the Ministry of Corporate Affairs is planning to undertake certain tweaks in the schem

Read More

08 Aug

Are the Rohingya ‘refugees’?

'The Supreme Court will decide whether the Rohingya in India “are entitled to be declared as ‘refugees’” or whether they are “illegal entrants”.

Read More

India’s First Ai-Driven Magazine Generator

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