Question

Earth will get a second moon for two months

Comments

This wasn't necessarily untrue, but what was pulled in by Earth's gravity was not actually a 'moon'. It was an asteroid named 2024 PT5, which was referred to as a 'mini-moon' at most. According to KTLA, the asteroid was only about the size of a bus, which is nowhere near the size of our moon. NASA states that the moon is a quarter of the Earth's size, and we all know that is much bigger than a bus. While it is true that it was briefly within the Earth's orbit, it is misleading to not state the period of time in the title of your claim, as it gives off the impression that this 'mini-moon' is a permanent addition to our orbit. It was in orbit from September 29th to November 25th--about two months as was mentioned in your caption. The only thing this claim lacks is clarity in details that leads it to be misinformation. The site named Astronomy states that celestial objects must stay within a certain distance from another object in order to continue being in its orbit, and The Register Guard states that 2024 PT5's orbit will lead it (or has led it at this time) outside of that area, which means it cannot stay within Earth's orbit permanently.

https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/earths-2nd-moon-is-here-what-you-need-to-know/
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moon/five-things-to-know-about-the-moon/
https://www.astronomy.com/observing/why-does-earth-have-only-one-moon/
https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2024/09/26/mini-moon-2024-pt5-asteroid-oregon/75378304007/

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The headline is not completely false, only slightly misleading. When referring to a second mini-moon they are talking about an asteroid that will be entering the earth's orbit for a while. The actual substance of the article is all true, they go on to say that the reason that it can be called a "mini-moon" instead of just an asteroid is because it will make at least one full rotation around the earth. Additionally, the asteroid heading for the orbit is larger than some of our past "mini-moons" further granting it "mini-moon" status. Much of the research comes from a research article published in Research Notes of the AAS. The information matches up between the two sources and is reliable.

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"Earth will get a second moon for two months" is true. Between September 29 and November 25, 2024, Earth briefly ensnared 2024 PT5, a tiny asteroid that is frequently referred to as a "mini-moon." This roughly 10-meter-diameter asteroid was found on August 7, 2024, by the South African ATLAS system. It entered Earth's orbit and stayed there for almost two months before reentering its solar orbit. While uncommon, these brief captures of near-Earth objects are not unheard of. 2024 PT5 was too small to be seen with the unaided eye, necessitating the use of professional-grade telescopes for observation.

I watched this video gaining more info on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aah1Ip9h2q8

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this feels like a very big claim to make with such little information.

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Your comment is very helpful adding in that earth will only gain said moon for two months which the original claim leaves out. The source you used is reliable in most cases as well and was picked out. Between September and November 2024 the earth was able to get a small asteroid into its gravitational pull and got what has been referred to as a mini moon.

Answer 1

The title of "Earth will get a second moon" is technically true. As a moon is defined as "the large round object that circles the Earth and that shines at night by reflecting light from the sun." (Webster Dictionary). Since the asteroid is revolving around earth, and reflecting light off from the sun, it can be classified as a moon. On the other hand, it is misleading, because it will be too small to see with a telescope or binoculars.

Answer 2

By looking at these three articles relating to the claim, multiple of these articles discuss the same thing with the dates being all the same and talking about earth getting a temporary second moon being of any tiny asteroid.  This claim is consistent with the facts being the same making this not misinformation the one thing I will say they could been a little more specific with the tiny moon being asteroid but overall everything else is accurate and each article backs up each claim. 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/21/earth-to-get-a-mini-moon-for-two-months-but-what-is-i

www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/09/19/temporary-mini-moon-will-begin-orbit-around-earth-next-week-what-to-know/.

www.space.com/earth-mini-moon-asteroid-2024-pt5.

Answer 3

The claim that Earth will get a second moon is very exaggerated. To add context the article states that an asteroid which is being labeled as a "mini moon" will orbit around for 2 months. Already the evidence you used shows that this claim is exaggerated as asteroids have many distinctions to moons. The asteroid is called "2024 PT5" and the event that will occur is temporary so this will not result in Earth gaining a "second moon." Simply the name "mini-moon" is just a nickname for this asteroid which caused the misconception of using "second moon" in your claim.

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2024/09/21/nx-s1-5121914/mini-moon-earth-asteroid

Answer 4

The claim "The Earth will get a second moon for two months" is an inaccurate and misleading statement. The article by CBS news explains the notable phenomenon of an asteroid sought to circle the moon. After doing further research into NASA's direct message they explain the how the asteroid will orbit earth for a very short period of time. the main claim made by the CBS article is misleading and inaccurate the Earth will not be getting a second moon. This authors of the article use true facts within the meat of the article but the main claim and title is false.

https://science.nasa.gov/planetary-defense/Links

Answer 5

2. The CBS News' notion that Earth would have a "second moon" is untrue. Using the term "second moon" to describe 2024 PT5 creates an overly dramatic idea of its importance. Although tiny asteroids like 2024 PT5 have the potential to resemble "mini moons momentarily," they are not at all like our real Moon. These asteroids, which are frequently tiny, only briefly orbit the Earth before reverting to their solar orbits. It would be more accurate to refer to 2024 PT5 as a temporarily captured object. After passing through Earth's gravitational pull, these asteroids begin a brief orbit that is frequently asymmetrical (such as a "horseshoe" orbit). They are usually too small to be seen without strong telescopes and lack the qualities of a stable, natural satellite like our Moon. 

Therefore, referring to 2024 PT5 as a "second moon" is incorrect and exaggerates its significance, even if it will technically orbit Earth. 

Sources: https://www.space.com/earth-will-capture-second-moon-sept-2024# 

Answer 6

The title of the article is a bit misleading because of the expectations it sets, but it's not untrue. NASA's definition of a moon is "Naturally-formed bodies that orbit planets". It is projected to orbit our planet for two months. Additionally, the American Astronomical Society also uses the language of "mini-moon" in their article about 2024 PT5. 

Here are the sources I fact-checked their information with:
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moons/
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2515-5172/ad781f
https://blogs.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/2024/10/02/nasa-to-track-asteroid-2024-pt5-on-next-close-pass-january-2025/ 

Answer 7

This statement that the earth will gain another moon is very exaggerated to the point where you could claim that it's untrue. The article linked describes how an asteroid is expected to orbit the Earth for a short period of time by looping around it and shooting back off into space. This can be a common occurrence for large objects in space such as planets and big asteroids. However, this doesn't give it the qualifications to be considered a moon. According to national geographic a moon is defined as "an object that orbits a planet or other celestial body that is not a star". This could cause confusion as to why some things are considered a moon and others aren't. The reason this particular asteroid is not a moon is because it's orbit is not long enough to be a 'natural satellite'. The asteroid simply was pulled in by the Earth gravitational pull and then slingshotted back out whereas our moon is in constant orbit with the earth. 

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/moon/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earth-second-mini-moon-2024/

Answer 8

While it is technically true that Earth will have another orbiting object for about two months, and while it does meet the definition for a moon, it's misleading to call the object a full second moon as it would not be recognized as a true moon by common standards.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earth-second-mini-moon-2024/

Answer 9

The article discusses a temporary small asteroid, 2024 PT5, that orbits Earth as a "mini-moon" from September to November 2024. However, this is not a permanent second moon. Unlike the actual Moon, 2024 PT5 follows a temporary orbit and will depart back into a solar orbit, returning to Earth's vicinity in 2055. So despite the credible source of NASA, the claim that Earth will have a second moon is somewhat misleading and too vague.

Answer 10

CBS' claim of Earth gaining a second moon is not inaccurate but misleading in its wording. The Earth commonly gains these notable objects such as small asteroids (what this is) and they often temporarily orbit (as a moon would). These objects under NASA's definition are moons as long as they orbit the Earth, this one is not particularly large or notable or visible or close and does not complete a full orbit>

https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/moons/facts/