Earth will have a temporary 'mini moon' for two months

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00:00A second moon for the Earth, albeit only temporarily. Earth's gravitational pull has captured a

00:05small asteroid, named 2024 PT5, which has become a so-called mini-moon.

00:11Asteroids that become mini-moons come within 4.5 million kilometres of Earth, a phenomenon

00:15which, although fairly rare, has already occurred several times in recent years.

00:22These objects come from the solar system at a relatively slow speed, around one kilometre

00:27per second, or 3,600 kilometres per hour. The Earth's gravitational pull is sufficient

00:35to capture them temporarily, resulting in a mini-moon.

00:42Without a professional telescope, it is too small and too far away to be seen.

00:47According to the European Space Agency, after escaping from Earth's gravity in November,

00:52the asteroid is expected to pass by again in 2055.

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