Skip to main content
See every side of every news story
Published loading...Updated

A 'second moon' discovered to be in Earth's orbit for the next 60 years

Asteroid 2025 PN7 has orbited near Earth for over 60 years and will remain a quasi-moon for about 126 years, scientists say it poses no threat to our planet.

  • Recently, astronomers at the University of Hawaii using Pan-STARRS observatory spotted a tiny asteroid named 2025 PN7, described as a quasi-moon accompanying Earth in a rare orbital ballet.
  • Because its orbit mirrors Earth's, 2025 PN7 orbits the Sun at roughly the same distance and follows an elliptical path inside and outside Earth's orbit, so it is classified as a quasi-moon.
  • About 62 feet across, 2025 PN7 is so dim that astronomers cannot determine its composition, and too few sightings reveal no real hints about its origins.
  • Astronomers say 2025 PN7 poses no danger to Earth and experts note it `won't affect Earth at all`, while scientists rushed to study it for clues about the solar system.
  • Researchers say 2025 PN7 has accompanied Earth for about 60 years and will remain for another six decades, unlike mini-moons such as 2024 PT5, which are brief visitors.
Insights by Ground AI

14 Articles

Think freely.Subscribe and get full access to Ground NewsSubscriptions start at $9.99/yearSubscribe

Bias Distribution

  • 57% of the sources are Center
57% Center

Factuality 

To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium

Ownership

To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage

Midland Reporter-Telegram broke the news in Midland, United States on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
Sources are mostly out of (0)
News
For You
Search
BlindspotLocal