Dhaka, Sep 21 (V7N) – Earth is set to have a "second moon" temporarily as asteroid 2024 PT5 enters its orbit from September 29 to November 25 this year, according to NASA’s Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS).

The asteroid, discovered in August 2024, will follow a unique horseshoe-shaped orbit around Earth for 56.6 days before returning to its heliocentric path around the Sun. Though invisible to the naked eye, professional astronomers can observe this mini-moon using advanced equipment.

Similar events have occurred before, such as with asteroids 2020 CD3 and 2022 NX1. The next closest approach of 2024 PT5 will be on January 9, 2025, before its departure until 2055.

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