Is Earth Really Getting A Second Moon?

I love watching Sci-Fi movies about other planets. The graphics always show beautiful nighttime views of multiple moons shining bright in the sky. If you've always wished that the Earth had more than one moon; your wish is coming true; at least for the next couple of months.

MEET '2024 PT5'

We are getting a second moon for the next couple of months. The new mini-moon, a small asteroid called '2024 PT5', is going to be Earth's temporary companion before it heads back to its home in the Arjuna asteroid belt.

According to Space.com, sometimes asteroids can get temporarily or permanently trapped in our planet's orbit, but most eventually head back to their orbit. It looks like 2024 PT5 is going to be a short-timer.

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WILL WE BE ABLE TO VIEW THE MINI-MOON?

The biggest question is whether we will be able to see this mini-moon during it's temporary stay?

Unfortunately, the asteroid will be too small and dim for amateur skywatchers. Our typical telescopes and binoculars aren't going to help in our efforts to spot it. However, professional stargazers will be watching and observing the asteroid to better understand it, and once they gather information about our temporary mini-moon, you should be able to learn about it in a published journal called 'The Research Notes of the AAS.'

FUTURE VISIBLE MINI-MOON

A mini-moon will happen again in 2029; that one WILL be visible to the naked eye. The asteroid Apophis will come within 20,000 miles of Earth on April 13th, 2029, and will be visible in some parts of the world. Apophis is special as it was once thought to be on a collision course with Earth.