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NASA has officially confirmed that Earth has another celestial companion a temporary second moon known as 2025 PN7. The small quasi-moon has been accompanying Earth since the 1960s and is expected to stay in orbit until around 2083, according to researchers at the University of Hawaii.
Unlike Earth’s main moon, which was formed billions of years ago after a massive cosmic collision, 2025 PN7 is a much smaller space rock estimated to be between 18 and 36 meters in diameter. It doesn’t directly orbit Earth but rather circles the sun while staying in sync with our planet’s orbit. This creates the illusion of a companion moon, even though it remains about 4 million kilometers away too distant to affect Earth’s gravity or tides.
Astronomers have identified only eight such quasi-moons near Earth so far, making 2025 PN7 a rare find. Scientists are particularly interested in these objects because they help study near-Earth asteroid movements and the intricate gravitational relationships within our solar system.
“Discoveries like 2025 PN7 deepen our understanding of orbital mechanics and Earth’s dynamic environment in space,” said Dr. Karen Meech, a senior astronomer at the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy.
While 2025 PN7 isn’t a true second moon, its presence highlights the fascinating and ever-evolving nature of Earth’s cosmic neighborhood a reminder that even our familiar skies still hold surprises
