NASA Confirmed: Earth Has a Second ‘Moon’ – But Only Until 2083

WASHINGTON D.C. – In a captivating celestial development, NASA has confirmed the presence of a long-term companion orbiting Earth, effectively acting like a second, albeit temporary, moon. This small asteroid, designated 2024 PT5, is locked in a complex gravitational dance with our planet and is expected to remain a quasi-satellite until around 2083.

While not a moon in the traditional sense like our large, permanent satellite, 2024 PT5 is classified as a quasi-satellite or co-orbital companion. This means that although it orbits the Sun, its path is heavily influenced by Earth’s gravity, keeping it relatively close to us for an extended period. It follows an elliptical path that makes it appear to orbit Earth from our perspective, though it isn’t gravitationally bound to us in the same way our Moon is.

The discovery and tracking of objects like 2024 PT5 are part of NASA’s ongoing mission to identify and monitor Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Astronomers using sophisticated telescopes and orbital calculations confirmed the asteroid’s unusual path and its long-term stability as a temporary companion.

“Objects like 2024 PT5 are fascinating cosmic neighbours,” explained a planetary scientist. “They offer clues about the dynamics of our solar system. While it’s not a permanent ‘second moon,’ its decades-long presence in Earth’s vicinity is a remarkable phenomenon.” For more mind-bending science stories, explore our Science section.

Earth has captured temporary ‘mini-moons’ before – small asteroids briefly pulled into orbit – but 2024 PT5’s extended stay as a quasi-satellite is noteworthy. Its current trajectory keeps it nearby, looping around our planet in its journey around the Sun.

So, what happens after 2083? Orbital projections suggest that 2024 PT5’s path will eventually diverge, and its close relationship with Earth will end, sending it on a different course through the solar system. Until then, however, Earth technically enjoys the company of two celestial partners – one ancient and familiar, the other a fascinating, temporary visitor.

Verified Outbound Link: Learn more about Near-Earth Objects and NASA’s monitoring efforts at the Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS).