For years, people have wondered if Earth could have more than one moon and now, NASA scientists have confirmed it.
The American space agency has discovered a new space rock orbiting the Sun that moves almost exactly like our Moon. This newly found object, named 2025 PN7, has amazed scientists because of how closely it follows Earth’s path around the Sun.
Experts say that 2025 PN7 travels at the same speed as Earth, which makes it appear to move alongside our planet just like a “half moon.” However, unlike our actual Moon, it doesn’t orbit Earth directly. Instead, it circles the Sun in a way that keeps it near our planet for a long time.
NASA scientists estimate that this rock will stay with Earth until the year 2083, meaning it will remain a close cosmic neighbor for about 58 more years.
Astronomers also shared that 2025 PN7 is quite far away. Its closest distance to Earth is about 4 million kilometers, while its farthest distance can reach 17 million kilometers.
Though it is much smaller and farther than our real Moon, the discovery has sparked excitement among space enthusiasts. Scientists believe that studying 2025 PN7 could help them learn more about how such “co-orbital” asteroids move and interact with planets.
For now, Earth may not officially have a second moon but it certainly has a fascinating celestial companion traveling beside it through space.