Astronomers discover earth's hidden quasi-moon after 60 years

In August 2025, astronomers identified a small space rock named 2025 PN7 orbiting near Earth. This quasi-moon has likely been circling the planet for roughly 60 years, unnoticed by telescopes. Observations captured at the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii revealed that this object swings within 186,000 miles (approximately 299,337 kilometers) during its closest approach. The study of quasi-moons is important as it may unveil more about the dynamics of celestial bodies within our solar system. The recent findings categorize 2025 PN7 as the smallest-known quasi-moon, estimated to be around 98 feet (30 meters) across. There are also implications that this small object could originate from the Arjuna asteroid belt, which has connections to ancient lunar material. Previous mini-moons like 2024 PT5 have also been suggested to have ties to fragments from the Earth's moon, hinting at an intriguing celestial history. Researchers, including Dr. Teddy Kareta, underscore that while 2025 PN7 shares similarities with other known quasi-moons, such as Kamo‘oalewa, it requires more data to ascertain whether it indeed is a component of the moon or another natural body. The study emphasizes the potential need for exploratory missions like Tianwen-2, which aims to investigate Kamo‘oalewa, to uncover the originating history of such celestial rocks. Over the next several decades, 2025 PN7 is expected to maintain its near-Earth orbit before the gravitational influence of the sun alters its trajectory, pulling it into a horseshoe orbit further away. This fascinating phenomenon reveals the complexity of space dynamics, and the quest for knowledge about quasi-moons may lead to new discoveries regarding Earth's neighborhood in the cosmos.