The Moon escaped from Earth: scientists reveal how it happened (photos).

For the past two months, a mini-moon has been orbiting Earth, and it returned to the Solar System just a few days ago. Astronomers managed to capture an image of the departing second Moon, reports Space.com.

On September 29, 2024, the near-Earth asteroid (NEO) 2024 PT5 was captured by Earth's gravity. According to Carlos de la Fuente Marcos from Madrid University, it was clear from the beginning that this mini-moon was temporarily in orbit around our planet.

The scientists' predictions came true, and the mini-moon embarked on a free flight on Monday, November 25, leaving Earth to return to its native group of asteroids known as Arjuna. This group of asteroids orbits the Sun in a path that is very close to Earth's orbit, located about 150 km from the Sun.

The asteroid 2024 PT5 is only 11 meters tall and was not visible to the naked eye from Earth.

Marcos and his team studied the asteroid using a two-meter twin telescope (TTT) located in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. Research on the asteroid indicated that it might be a fragment of the Moon formed as a result of an asteroid impact.

"The last photograph of 2024 PT5 was taken by Dr. Mikel Serra-Ricart, a member of our collaboration," the scientist adds.

However, astronomers say this separation won't last long. The asteroid 2024 PT5 will return to our planet on January 9, 2025. At that time, the asteroid will be even closer to Earth than during its recent flyby. The asteroid's speed, which will be around 3700 km/h, will prevent it from being influenced by Earth's gravity this time. Another return of the asteroid is expected in 2055.

"Almost certainly, the asteroid will return in 2055. From about the end of October 6 to the morning of October 14, 2055, the asteroid will have every chance to be influenced by Earth's gravity again. This time it will stop at a distance of 5.3 million km from the planet. It will no longer be considered a temporary satellite of Earth, as it will spend most of its time 45 million km away from the planet," the scientists concluded.

Recall that scientists have shared how the Moon came to be around Earth, their new theory debunks the commonly accepted version. It is believed that the Moon formed as a result of a giant impact on Earth about 4.5 billion years ago. The new theory suggests that the reality was different.