Several 'minimoons' quietly circling Earth could be chunks of the Moon

New Moon Rock Near Earth Hints at Hidden 'Minimoons' (Image: Canva)

Sometimes, space surprises us when we least expect it. One quiet evening in August, astronomers spotted something unusual slowly drifting near Earth. What looked like a tiny rock might actually be a piece of the Moon, and it's now raising hopes that more may be out there.

A Second Moon Rock Enters Earth's Neighbourhood

A small object named 2024 PT5 was observed drifting slowly near Earth. It moved at just 2 metres per second, catching the attention of astronomers in South Africa. This strange movement hinted it might not be a typical asteroid. Instead, it may have been blasted off the Moon during a violent impact long ago.

The object measures between 8 and 12 metres across. Scientists believe it is only the second known lunar fragment circling in near-Earth space. The first, Kamo'oalewa, was discovered in 2016 and linked to the Moon in 2021.

"If there were only one, it might be rare," said Teddy Kareta of Lowell Observatory. "But two objects suggest a whole hidden population."

Studied Through Light and Movement

Once spotted, 2024 PT5 was added to the Mission Accessible Near-Earth Object Survey. This project looks for asteroids that are easiest to reach by spacecraft. Mr Kareta and lead scientist Nick Moskovitz used the Lowell Discovery Telescope to examine its light signature.

They studied the object in both visible and near-infrared light. The data revealed it looked remarkably like Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo and Luna 24 missions. The slow speed and unique light profile supported the idea that it came from the Moon.

The discovery was detailed in The Astrophysical Journal Letters in January. It was also shared in March at a science conference in Texas.

Minimoons May Be More Common Than Thought

2024 PT5 was briefly called a “minimoon” last September. Though it stayed near Earth only for a short time, it could return in 2055. Such fragments might be more common than we realise, quietly moving with our planet around the Sun.

Most debris from Moon impacts stays close to Earth's orbit. Slower fragments, like 2024 PT5, may drift nearby for a while before wandering off again.

Mr Kareta compared the discovery to finding a new clue at a crime scene. "It may not solve the case, but it adds value," he told Space.com.

The team hopes that more of these minimoons can be found and studied. If confirmed, they could give scientists fresh insights into the Moon’s history—and bring space missions a little closer to home.