US EditionAstronomers Discover Previously Unknown Quasi-Moon Near Earth
Asteroid 2025 PN7 has followed a quasi-satellite orbit near Earth for 60 years and may remain for another 60, providing new insights into near-Earth object dynamics.
- Astronomers discovered asteroid 2025 PN7, a small quasi-moon orbiting near Earth, first seen on August 2, 2025, at Haleakalā Observatory in Hawaii.
- 2025 PN7 remained undetected for about 60 years due to its small size, faintness, and limited visibility until recent observations with advanced telescopes revealed its presence.
- The asteroid belongs to the Arjuna group of near-Earth objects that orbit the Sun in resonance with Earth without being gravitationally bound, appearing to loop around Earth like a second moon.
- About 30 meters across and currently the smallest-known quasi-moon near Earth, 2025 PN7 swings within 186,000 miles at closest approach and poses no impact threat.
- 2025 PN7 is expected to remain a quasi-satellite for several more decades before solar gravitational forces alter its orbit, providing astronomers insight into Earth’s near-space environment and potential exploration targets.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The Earth apparently has a second moon for decades. But only now a telescope in Hawaii discovered the object "2025 PN7". Why the celestial body remained undetected for so long and which questions researchers now have to clarify.
Astronomers detected a quasimoon near Earth—and it is likely that the small space rock has been near our planet, without being seen by telescopes, for about 60 years, according to new research.
By Ashley Strickland, CNN Astronomers detected a near-moon near Earth—and it is likely that the small space rock has been near our planet, without being seen by telescopes, for about 60 years, according to new research. The newly discovered celestial object, called 2025 PN7, is a type of near-Earth asteroid orbiting the sun but remaining close to our planet. Like our world, 2025 PN7 takes a year to complete an orbit around the sun. The quasi-moo…
A New ‘Mini Moon’ Near Earth? Scientists Reveal It’s an Asteroid, Not a Real Moon!
According to astronomers, there are several quasi-moons in Earth’s neighborhood. 2025 PN7 was detected on August 29 by the Pan-STARRS Observatory in Hawaii. A review of earlier astronomical data suggests that this faint and small asteroid has been orbiting near Earth for decades, but its dim nature kept it hidden until now.
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