© Shutterstock/ buradaki/ Rawhi302/ Mikael DamkierAn illustration by The Epoch Times shows an asteroid orbiting the Earth.
It appears that planet Earth has assumed babysitting duties for a minor space object that came too close to our world and chose to stay for a few weeks.
The traveling object fell into Earth's orbit in September and will remain there until late November. Rocky in disposition and roughly the size of a school bus, the object is an asteroid, yet scientists are calling it a "second moon."How the Earth Came to Have Two MoonsTraveling along a horseshoe-shaped path through the solar system, this asteroid is classified as a near-Earth object, or NEO. There are many NEOs in outer space. While making a flyby close to Earth, this particular object's gravitational energy temporarily fell to negative levels, according to a
study published by the American Astronomical Society. This implied that it was in Earth's orbit.On Sept. 29, it became official.
The NEO got caught in Earth's orbit, technically making it a second moon. It was named 2024 PT5. However, it won't last long; the rock won't even revolve once around the Earth before hurtling off in a few weeks.
© Shutterstock/ Mikael DamkierAn illustration shows an asteroid orbiting the Earth.
Although technically a "moon," the object measures only 33 feet long, roughly 345,000 times smaller than our permanent lunar satellite. Most people won't see it, as it will be far too small for human eyes or amateur equipment to spot. Astronomers will be able to observe it using high-powered telescopes,
Live Science writes."The object is too small and dim for typical amateur telescopes and binoculars," study author Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a professor at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, told
Space.com. "However, the object is well within the brightness range of typical telescopes used by professional astronomers."
So, for now, planet Earth is babysitting an asteroid, though it won't overstay its welcome. On Nov. 25, it will depart from orbiting Earth and start its journey back into deep space, not to be seen again for decades.Where Did It Come From?Over the years, countless other space objects like 2024 PT5 have grazed by Earth.
This NEO is said to originate from the Arjunas, a secondary asteroid belt in the solar system that aligns closely with Earth. Hoards of NEOs can be found within this cluster, and some have even visited Earth before. The latest flyby closely resembles a prior one called 2022 NX1, which orbited Earth in 1981 and 2022 before bidding farewell.
When 2024 PT5 says sayonara in November, it won't return to greet us again until 2055.Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter.
Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news.
Many try to claim that it was put here by outside forces... It was NOT 'placed here' by Any intelligent force - it was a completely Natural occurrence. The following description of when and how this occurred has been provided by Thiaoouba Prophecy, written in 1987, and first published in 1990 under the name "Abduction to the Ninth Planet" by Michel Desmarquete.
The description given to Michel by Thao, his mentor during his experience:
From “Thiaoouba Prophecy”, chapter 7, pg 90
(Michel) “I'm sorry, Thao – may I interrupt? When you explained the cataclysm which knocked Earth off it's axis, you said that refuge on the moon was not possible because it didn't exist – and now, you say that safety bases were established on the moon for these emigrants...'
(Thao) “There Was no moon at the time when the blacks populated Australia, {and the yellow races, the SE of Asia} or for a very long time afterwards. There had been two very small moons much earlier – about 6 million years ago, which revolved around Earth, eventually colliding with it. Earth was not inhabited at the time so, although terrible cataclysms followed, it didn't really matter. About 500,000 years ago, Earth 'captured' a much larger moon – the one which exists now. It was passing too close to your planet and was attracted into an orbit. This often happens with moons. Further catastrophes were provoked by this event...”
(Michel) “What do you mean when you say 'passing too close' to Earth? Why didn't it crash? And, anyway, what IS a moon?”
(Thao) “It could have crashed indeed, but that doesn't often happen. A moon is originally a small planet revolving around its sun in a spiral that becomes increasingly tight. The smaller planets spiral more rapidly than the larger planets, and, if they pass too closely, the gravitational attraction of the planet will be stronger than that of the sun. the smaller planet begins to orbit the larger one, still in a spiral, which will sooner or later result in a collision”
(Michel) “Are you saying that our beautiful moon celebrated in poem and son, will one day fall on our heads?”
(Thao) “One day, yes... but not for about 195,000 years.”
I must have seemed relieved and my fright somewhat comical, for my hosts all laughed.
Thao continued. “When that happens – when the moon collides with the Earth – that will be the end of your planet. If the people of the Earth are not sufficiently spiritually and technologically advanced at the time, it will mean a holocaust; but, if they are, they will have evacuated to another planet. Everything in it's time though, Michel.
***end
By this account, it can be seen that this new moon, being smaller and moving faster, will spiral in and impact Earth in a Much shorter time-frame, but (probably) well beyond anyone's current lifetime. There is MUCH MUCH MORE in this book than just this description, but some may be upset by a few of the 'revelations' provided within. I also recognize that some will think it to be a work of 'science fiction'.... I assure you... it is NO 'fiction'.
Thiaoouba.com
free pdf of book: [Link]