Researchers in Madrid have discovered that Earth will soon be graced with a ‘new moon’ for a period of 65 days starting from September 29. The mini moon, as it is being called, will orbit our planet from the end of September until November 25, according to the scientists at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. This temporary celestial visitor, an asteroid about the size of a large bus, will be visible during this time before heading back to the asteroid belt surrounding the sun. The occurrence of such an event is rare but not unprecedented.
The lead researcher, Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, explained that the asteroid belongs to the Arjuna asteroid belt, known for its space rocks with orbits similar to Earth’s. The mini moon phenomenon has been observed twice before, in 1981 and 2022. While the asteroid will not complete a full orbit around Earth, it will come relatively close, about 2.8 million miles away. The asteroid was first spotted on August 7 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (Atlas), a NASA-funded program.
Despite its name, this ‘new moon’ is nothing like our familiar natural satellite. With a length of around 10 meters, it pales in comparison to the moon’s diameter of about 3,474 km. The mini moon may not be visible to the naked eye but can be spotted with typical telescopes used by professional astronomers. If you miss this celestial event, don’t fret too much – experts predict that the asteroid will return to Earth’s orbit again in 2055.
The discovery of this temporary moon has sparked excitement among astronomers and skygazers alike, offering a unique opportunity to witness a rare cosmic event. As we prepare to welcome this mini moon, researchers will continue to study its orbit and behaviour, shedding light on the mysteries of our vast universe.