Apps Helping You Track The Moon

Starting from September 29, Earth will gain a temporary companion in the form of a small asteroid called 2024 PT5. This space rock, around 10 metres wide, was discovered last month and will orbit the planet for about 56 days before moving back on its path around the Sun on November 25. It will be a short visit, but 2024 PT5 is expected to return in 2055 for another pass near Earth.

This asteroid comes from the Arjuna asteroid belt, a region in space filled with small objects that share a similar path to Earth’s orbit. Although this isn’t the first time a mini-moon has visited Earth, the event adds another layer of intrigue to the study of near-Earth objects and how they interact with our planet’s gravitational pull.

Why Does This Mini-Moon Matter?

Researchers have been tracking such objects to better understand their movements and origins. 2024 PT5 has captured attention because of its ability to briefly circle Earth before continuing its solar orbit. Using detailed calculations, scientists have mapped its path and expect it to orbit Earth just once before leaving.

The asteroid’s short stay presents a rare opportunity for astronomers to gather valuable information about its structure and behavior. It’s an excellent example of how Earth’s gravity occasionally attracts smaller objects for a brief time before they continue on their cosmic journey.

Will We Be Able To See The “Moon”?

Most people won’t really be able to catch a glimpse of 2024 PT5 with the naked eye. The asteroid is quite small and faint, making it difficult to spot without specialised equipment.

Larger telescopes used by professionals may have the best chance of observing the mini-moon during its stay. This fleeting visitor reminds us of the constant activity happening in space, even if we can’t always see it.

5 Apps To Track The Moon’s Activity

Those who may have missed the fact that there was a lunar eclipse on the 17-18th of September, depending on time zone, could blame it on the fact that a moon tracker isn’t notifying you. These apps tell different phases of the moon, as well as events such as supermoons and eclipses, both of which took place a few days ago:

1. My Moon Tracker

My Moon Tracker is an application which aims to swiftly inform the user of the current moon phase in relation to the lunar calendar and also aims to serve as a lunar calendar itself with some other exciting features such as new moon notifications the app also supports application. Personally I find the application very convenient because it helps me anticipate every day how best to organise my time around the moon cycle.

What makes My Moon Tracker really appealing are the push notifications regarding scouts and other astronomical phenomenological events. Moreover, it suggests various leisure activities regarding the moon and its impact on nature and culture. There is an additional visualisation of the current location of the moon in the sky through a smartphone compass which enhances the interest of star gazing further.
 

2. MoonGazer

A lunar lover’s delight, MoonGazer is the app of choice for both cosmonauts and astronauts. Ease of access is assured for all types of users, who will receive the most relevant information about the phases of the moon, upcoming solar and eclipses, and super moons calendar and moon rise and set app. And, the gestural control system makes monitoring the moon with the app even simpler.

Exploring the maps with calendars of the Moon phases never again allows you to overlook the most important lunar events and even informs you about them beforehand. The augmented reality features allow you to aim your phone at the sky and see where the moon is as you move about. Various widgets that show various moon information are able to be placed on the home screen for frequent usage.

Great for photographers, astronomers, and nature lovers alike, MoonGazer takes the moon a notch closer. So, download MoonGazer and begin your voyage to the moon now!

3. Moon Locator – Lunar Calendar

Moon Locator acts as a helpful tool for those fascinated by the moon. This app displays details about moon phases, its position, and its path for any location at a given time. It tracks lunar movements, useful for amateur astronomers or sky watchers. The main view shows moonrise, moonset, and the phases in percentage, for users to know when to observe the moon.

Its augmented reality mode overlays the moon’s position onto a phone’s camera. This tool helps users set up for night sky photography or other moon-related activities with greater ease. The lunar path map is another useful aspect, showing directions and shadows to plan observations better.

4. MOON – Current Moon Phase

\MOON is a personalised app for tracking the lunar cycle. It lets users see the moon’s current phase and countdown to events like full moons. Users can set reminders to always remain informed before important lunar moments. Also, users can view what the moon looked like on any date- a fun and useful tool for both astronomy lovers and casual users as well.

The app’s design even allows users to share images of the moon with friends. Save these images to devices, or share them directly through messaging apps. It’s available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and works offline.

5. Moon Tracker

Moon Tracker is a simple and practical app for anyone interested in following the moon’s movements. It gives real-time information about the moon’s position, moonrise and moonset times, the current phase, and other details. Users can access an AR projection, showing the moon’s exact path in the sky at their location.

This app also has an interactive map that shows a clear visualisation of the moon’s course, in 2D or 3D. There’s also a calendar that has events like lunar eclipses and supermoons, giving users everything needed to keep up with the moon’s schedule. The app has both a free and Premium version, the latter allowing users to track the moon from different locations and times.