A small object from space has intrigued astronomers since its detection in 2024. Its exact nature remains difficult to believe, yet clues continue to mount. It would only be the tip of the iceberg of a much larger phenomenon.
Our planet evolves in a space environment that is populated by various objects. Some are the result of human activities, such as satellites or rocket debris. Others are much older, remnants of cosmic events that shaped the solar system. For scientists, monitoring these elements allows them to anticipate threats, but also to better understand the celestial dynamics around the Earth. It was during the summer of 2024 that a newcomer caught the attention of astronomers. Named 2024 PT5, this small rocky body was spotted from South Africa. Its slow relative speed, less than 5 km/h, immediately ranked it among the most accessible objects for study. The MANOS program team quickly mobilized its instruments to learn more about this discreet visitor. Their initial analyses revealed a surprisingly familiar profile.
The mysterious object 2024 PT5 shares the same composition as samples taken from the Moon
Observations made with the Lowell telescope made it possible to study the light reflected by 2024 PT5. The results surprised the researchers: its spectral composition is very close to that of lunar rocks brought back by the Apollo and Soviet Luna 24 missions. The object is believed to measure between 8 and 12 meters in diameter. It could be a lunar fragment torn off during a violent impact, then propelled into a near-Earth orbit. This phenomenon remains rare, but it is no longer unique.
A previous fragment, named Kamo’oalewa, was identified in 2021. These two objects, although different in their trajectory and size, could belong to a little-known population of lunar debris. Unlike the latter, which follows a quasi-permanent orbit around our planet, 2024 PT5 only crossed paths briefly before continuing on its way. Future observations, particularly with the Vera Rubin telescope, could well reveal other similar cases. These discoveries open a new avenue for tracing the history of the large impacts that have marked the surface of the Moon.
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