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Earth recently acquired a second moon, an asteroid named 2025 PN7.
Astronomers have spotted the rock, with researchers confirming this week that it qualifies as a “half moon.”
The tiny space rock has likely been hanging around Earth for nearly 60 years, yet it was left undiscovered by telescopes.
Who discovered Earth’s second moon?
Researchers at the University of Hawaii were the first to observe Earth’s other moon, 2025 PN7, during a routine telescopic survey.
On August 29, the Pan-STARRS observatory located on Haleakala Volcano in Hawaii captured observations of 2025 PN7 for the first time.
Later archival data revealed that this celestial body has been Earth’s companion for many decades.
What is Earth’s second moon 2025 PN7?
2025 PN7, Earth’s second moon, is a semi-moon – an astronomical object that travels in almost perfect sync with Earth.
While the asteroid is not a true moon, it keeps pace with Earth and moves around the Sun in an almost precise manner – so much so that it appears to cast a shadow around our planet as it orbits it.
Half-moons are different from temporary mini-moons, such as 2024 PT5, which occasionally orbit Earth. 2024 PT5 orbited Earth for about two months in 2024 and is now said to be a piece in space after being blasted by our primary moon.
The newly discovered 2025 PN7 is also being called Earth’s second moon and if its current orbit remains intact, it could stay with us till 2083. It is one of very few known half-moons that have near-Earth orbits, including Kamo’olewa which is also considered an ancient lunar fragment.
2025 PN7 is not bound by Earth’s gravity, unlike our primary moon, but follows a similar orbit to ours.
How big is Earth’s second moon?
Scientists say that Earth’s second moon 2025 PN7 is small and faint, which is why it went unnoticed for so many years.
According to EarthSky, astronomers are still trying to understand how big or small this asteroid is, with researchers estimating it to be about 98 feet (30 meters) wide and about 62 feet (19 meters) in diameter.
According to Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a researcher at the Complutense University of Madrid, 2025 PN7 can only be detected when it comes close enough to Earth.
CNN quoted him as saying, “It can only be detected by currently available telescopes when it comes close to our planet as it did this summer. Its visibility window is very short and very far away. It is a challenging object.”
De la Fuente Marcos said the space rock is the smallest known half-moon orbiting near Earth so far.
At its closest pass to our planet, Earth’s second moon 2025 PN7 orbits within a radius of 299,337 kilometers from us, he said. According to NASA, it is on average 384,400 kilometers away from us.
Astronomers have so far confirmed only eight half-moons in total.
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