Astronomers have recently discovered a new celestial body, designated as 2025 PN7, which they believe has been orbiting the Sun alongside Earth for decades.A viral claim that NASA has confirmed Earth has acquired a second moon, which will stay with us until 2083, is circulating online. But this isn't entirely true. Let's dive deep into what's actually happening and all about the viral claim circulating on the internet.
There is also no proof that NASA has recently acknowledged the presence of the quasi-moon, owing to the agency's suspension of all public communications since the government shutdown began on October 1.
What's Actually Happening?
Astronomers recently discovered a new celestial body, designated as 2025 PN7, which they believe has been orbiting the Sun alongside Earth for decades. This tiny object, estimated to be around 60-120 feet in diameter, is a quasi-moon. It's not a moon in the classical sense, as it's not gravitationally bound to Earth.
What are Quasi-Moons?
Quasi-moons are asteroids that happen to fall into the same orbital path as Earth around the Sun. They are like two separate boats floating down the same stream. These objects can stay in the same orbit for years or even decades before moving away.
In the recent case, 2025 PN7 is believed to have been orbiting the Sun alongside Earth for about 60 years and is expected to continue doing so until 2083. They don't join Earth's orbit indefinitely.
According to Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a researcher who co-wrote a recent study on 2025 PN7, the space rock will pass within 186,000 miles (299,337 kilometres) of our planet during its closest approach.
According to NASA, the average distance between 2025 PN7 and Earth is 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometres), as reported by ABC7 New York.
"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. For Earth's neighbourhood, the existence of 2025 PN7 suggests that there may not exist a lower limit to the size of a quasi-satellite," Marcos wrote in an email.
Why Quasi-Moons Matter
Quasi-moons are fascinating objects that provide scientists with a rare opportunity to study a single object for an extended period. Their unique orbits allow them to stay nearby for years or even decades, making them ideal subjects for long-term study.
In fact, China launched a probe called Tianwen-2 in May to study a quasi-moon called Kamo'oalewa and bring geologic samples back to Earth for study.
Speaking with the astronomy magazine Sky & Telescope last month, amateur astronomer Sam Deen said, "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."
Conclusion
While Earth hasn't acquired a second moon, the discovery of 2025 PN7 is still a significant find that sheds light on the dynamic nature of our solar system. With this latest addition, there are now eight known quasi-moons travelling through space alongside the Earth.