There are many asteroids around Earth, but a new one has recently been identified: asteroid 2025 PN7. This new asteroid in the Solar System has been identified thanks to the Pan.STARRS Observatory in Hawaii. In addition, the American Astronomical Society has published information about this new discovery. Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, from the Complutense University of Madrid, has led the research, and NADA emphasizes that it has many characteristics similar to Kamo’oalewa, which was explored by the Tianwen-2 expedition. Although it is still under investigation, Teddy Kareta, from Villanova University, has presented a theory that it could be directly related to the Moon. Read on to find out more.
The new identification: “quasi-moon” close to Earth
Astronomers have recognized an unusual “quasi-moon” orbiting close to our planet. The celestial object, known as 2025 PN7, follows a path around the Sun likely to Earth’s and has kept surprisingly close to our planet. Recent investigatios proposes this interesting asteroid may have been quietly accompanying Earth for roughly six decades, and will be the same to do so until 2083, provided its current orbit holds.
The achievement, published in the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society, came thanks to Hawaii’s Pan-STARRS Observatory on August 29, 2025. Earlier images proved that 2025 PN7 has kept a stable orbit linked to Earth for long time. Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, a researcher at Complutense University of Madrid and lead author of the investigation explained that they can just detect it with current telescopes when it comes close to Earth, as it did this summer. More over, Its visibility windows are rare.
Two diferent moons: Mini-moons vs. quasi-moons
In contrat to temporary mini-moons like 2024 PT5, that orbit Earth for only short periods, quasi-moons keep in our planet’s vicinity for all time at the same its actually orbiting the Sun. According to NASA, 2025 PN7 averages about 239,000 miles from Earth and can get as close as 186,000 miles. This makes it one of the few recognized quasi-moons, all along with Kamoʻoalewa, the target of China’s Tianwen-2 mission presented in May 2025.
A rocky mystery
The asteroid’s composition is still being investigation. Astrophysicist Teddy Kareta of Villanova University explained that based on what little they know and they have already investigatie, it’s very probably a natural rocky object. In some occasions, old satellites or rocket debris can end up in orbits that alike, but we can normally distinguish natural objects from artificial ones.
Researchers advert that further studies are required to uncover the real origin of 2025 PN7. One theory under consideration is that it could be a fragment of the Moon, though future analyses will be required to confirm its happening.
Previous investigation: Tianwen-2 probe has sent a self-portrait
The image was captured by a camera onboard the probe, which is currently more than 3 million kilometers from Earth, and shows one of its wings with its solar panels deployed. It is also the first glimpse the CNSA has offered of its space probe, which launched on May 29 on a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Zeyuan Town, China. The design of Tianwen-2’s panels is similar in appearance to those on Lucy, NASA’s space probe that is exploring asteroids floating near Jupiter. These serve to meet the power demands required for the trip.
Tianwen-2’s mission is to land on the surface of Kamo‘oalewa, collect samples, and return to Earth. The spacecraft is scheduled to land on the asteroid’s surface in July 2026. Before then, it will spend several months studying Kamo‘oalewa from a safe distance, to determine its sampling area, before proceeding with landing maneuvers, a particularly difficult task given the asteroid’s low gravity.
