A new asteroid, named 2024 PT5, originating from the Arjuna asteroid belt, has been detected orbiting near Earth. This belt consists of small asteroids with orbits around the Sun similar to Earth's. According to astronomer Jedicke, it is estimated that there is always at least one "minimoon" the size of a dishwasher in the Earth-Moon system, but due to their small size, they are difficult to detect. Temporarily captured by Earth's gravity, 2024 PT5 will orbit our planet from September 29 to November 25, according to astronomers. Afterward, the space rock will return to a heliocentric orbit, which is an orbit around the Sun. With an estimated diameter of 10 meters, it is the largest captured object of its kind discovered to date.

These minimoons can originate from both the main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, or from fragments of the Moon expelled by asteroid impacts. Studying their origin could provide more information on the crater formation process and the expulsion of lunar material, Jedicke noted.

The research team plans to continue observing the asteroid using advanced telescopes in the Canary Islands. However, 2024 PT5 is too small to be visible through amateur telescopes or binoculars and will not have any observable effects on Earth. After 56.6 days, the Sun's gravitational pull will return the asteroid to its normal orbit, but before that, on January 9, 2025, it will pass close to Earth, at a distance of 1.7 million kilometers. The asteroid is expected to return in 2055 and again in 2084.