John Wheeler: Earth will have two moons for a while this fall

FARGO — The asteroid belt is a region of our solar system in between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter where millions of rocks and boulders orbit the sun. The gravitational pull of Jupiter, the most massive of the planets, keeps the asteroids more or less in place. However, there are a few renegade asteroids orbiting the sun outside of this primary belt and, on occasion, one of these can pass near enough to get caught in Earth's gravitational pull.

Such is the case with 2024 PT5, a 33-foot diameter rock that will be captured by Earth's gravity from Sept. 29 through Nov. 15.



It will not collide with Earth, and it is too small to be seen except with extremely large and powerful telescopes. So, as astronomical events go, this one really is quite inconsequential. However, for a couple of months, our planet will have two moons, kind of.

.