Technically a “temporarily captured object,” 2024 PT5 is a near-Earth asteroid and Earth’s newest mini-moon. This 11-meter diameter near-Earth asteroid — about the same as a London bus — is expected to stay in orbit for a couple of months before resuming its own journey through the solar system on Nov. 25.

Unlike the existing moon — which has orbited our planet for about 4 billion years — this new floating rock is only expected to orbit the Earth once, beginning its trip Sept. 29 before breaking off from its gravitational pull on Nov. 25. So, will you be able to get a glimpse of the extraterrestrial event?

The Earth has a new companion for the next 2 months! A passing asteroid named 2024 PT5 has become gravitationally tethered to the Earth for about the next 8 weeks. The asteroid is about 24 feet wide, which is quite small, so it won't be visible with the naked eye. Thankfully, the asteroid poses no threat to the Earth or the Moon.