It sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie — Earth has a second moon. Well, sort of. According to NASA, our planet has a small, unusual celestial companion that has been orbiting near us since the 1960s — and it’s expected to stick around until 2083.
This new “moon” isn’t a traditional moon like the one we gaze at on calm nights. Instead, it’s something known as a “quasi-moon” — an asteroid-like object that moves in sync with Earth around the Sun. Discovered recently by astronomers at the University of Hawaii, the object, named 2025 PN7, measures only about 18 to 36 meters wide.
Our Familiar Moon — The Timeless Companion
Earth’s real moon, of course, has been around for billions of years. Scientists keep on believing that it formed after a massive object collided with the early Earth, sending debris into orbit that eventually merged into a glowing, molten sphere. Over time, it cooled and solidified into the bright, cratered satellite we glance today.
The moon orbits roughly 384,000 kilometers away, takes about 27 days to circle Earth, and drifts slowly farther from us — about an inch every year. Its gravitational pull shapes our tides and stabilizes Earth’s tilt, making life as we know it feasible.
The Quasi-Moon — A Cosmic Hitchhiker
By contrast, 2025 PN7 doesn’t actually orbit Earth. Instead, it is following its own path around the Sun, but because its timing matches ours, it emerges to trail Earth like a loyal companion. In truth, it’s more of a cosmic hitchhiker — moving alongside us at a respectful distance of about 4 million kilometers.
This little rock doesn’t affect our tides or gravity. It’s quiet, distant, and easy to miss — yet it’s considered to be part of a rare family of space bodies. So far, astronomers have identified only eight quasi-moons.
Each one offers scientists remarkable insights into how asteroids move and how Earth’s gravity influences nearby space. So, while our “second moon” may not glow in the night sky, it’s a gentle reminder that the cosmic neighborhood of Earth is far more crowded — and fascinating — than it seems.