A viral claim suggesting that NASA has confirmed Earth has gained a second moon is misleading. Recent astronomical discoveries indicate a new celestial object, labeled 2025 PN7, which is believed to have been sharing an orbital path with Earth for decades. However, this object is not a true moon as it is not gravitationally tethered to our planet.
Quasi-moons, as they are known, are asteroids that find themselves in a similar orbit around the Sun as Earth. This phenomenon can be likened to two boats drifting down the same river. These quasi-moons can stay in proximity for extended periods, sometimes spanning decades, before eventually drifting away. In the case of 2025 PN7, experts estimate that it has been orbiting the Sun alongside Earth for approximately 60 years and will continue doing so until 2083.
According to Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a researcher involved in the study of 2025 PN7, the asteroid is expected to come within about 186,000 miles (299,337 kilometers) of Earth during its closest approach. The average distance between this object and our planet is around 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers), as detailed by NASA.
Marcos noted, “It can only be detected by currently available telescopes when it gets close to our planet, as it did this summer. The solar system is full of surprises, so we keep looking.” He emphasized that the existence of 2025 PN7 suggests that there may not be a minimum size limit for quasi-satellites.
The study of quasi-moons like 2025 PN7 is important for scientists as they provide a unique opportunity for extended observation. Their orbits allow researchers to examine these objects over long periods. For instance, China recently launched a probe named Tianwen-2 to investigate another quasi-moon, Kamo”oalewa, with the aim of returning geological samples to Earth.
Amateur astronomer Sam Deen commented on the significance of these objects, stating, “Their cycling around Earth allows even very small asteroids like this one to be studied for years, and often decades, as they repeatedly come back to visit us every single year.”
In conclusion, while Earth has not acquired a second moon in the traditional sense, the identification of 2025 PN7 is an intriguing development that enhances our understanding of the dynamic nature of our solar system. Currently, there are eight known quasi-moons that share space with Earth.
