Does Earth Have 2 Moons Now? Meet Our New Celestial Companion | Explained

Last Updated:October 21, 2025, 17:25 IST

NASA reports that this 'companion moon' has orbited alongside Earth for 60 years and will continue until 2083, after which it will gradually drift away

NASA assures that this asteroid poses no threat to Earth but presents a valuable opportunity for scientific exploration. (AI Generated/News18 Hindi)

NASA has confirmed the existence of a new ‘companion moon’ for Earth, a small asteroid named 2025 PN7. However, scientists clarify that it is a ‘quasi-moon’, an object that orbits the Sun at nearly the same speed as Earth.

The small asteroid, measuring 18 to 36 metres in diameter, roughly the height of a small building, holds significant interest for researchers. According to NASA, 2025 PN7 has been moving alongside Earth in space for the past 60 years and will continue to do so until 2083, after which it will drift away.

Though not bound by Earth’s gravity like the Moon, scientists liken it to a runner staying in step on the same track without ever colliding.

How It Was Discovered

Discovery of 2025 PN7 was made by astronomers at the University of Hawaii in August 2025 using the Pan-STARRS1 telescope. Upon examining old astronomical images, researchers identified glimpses of the asteroid dating back to 1957, indicating it has been in sync with Earth for decades.

According to scientists, the asteroid’s orbit around the Sun is so similar to Earth’s that it sometimes appears ahead of or behind our planet. At its closest, it comes within 2.5 million miles (about 4 million km), roughly ten times the distance of the Moon.

The Smallest Quasi-Moon

NASA reports that only eight quasi-moons have been confirmed around planets like Earth, with 2025 PN7 being the smallest and least stable. Its 19-metre diameter makes it difficult to observe, with limited ‘visibility windows’ where it can be seen at specific times and angles.

An Opportunity, Not A Threat

NASA assures that this asteroid poses no threat to Earth but presents a valuable opportunity for scientific exploration. According to expert Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, “Small, nearby asteroids could serve as ideal testing grounds for future unmanned space missions."

While 2025 PN7 will not be visible like the Moon, it will remain in orbit around Earth for the coming decades, traveling alongside the planet as a quasi-satellite.

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