Click here for animation (.mov, 13.4 MB)

This animation depicts the motion of small near-Earth asteroid 2024 PT5 as it orbits the Sun. Because it has a similar orbit as our planet, the asteroid will linger as a distant companion for a few months, but it will not be captured by Earth's gravity.

Asteroid 2024 PT5 was first observed on Aug. 7, 2024, by the Sutherland, South Africa, telescope of the University of Hawaii's Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), which is funded by NASA. Estimated to be about 33 feet (10 meters) wide, the asteroid does not pose a hazard to Earth.

The 53-second animation depicts the orbits of Earth and 2024 PT5 from Dec. 31, 2023, to Sept. 9, 2025, speeded up by about 1 million times.

For more information about 2024 PT5 can be found at: https://blogs.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/2024/10/02/nasa-to-track-asteroid-2024-pt5-on-next-close-pass-january-2025/