Astronomers Detect Asteroid Orbiting with Earth, a ‘Quasi-Satellite’ for Decades
WASHINGTON – A newly discovered asteroid, designated โข2025 PN7, โis captivating astronomers with its unusual orbit – a path that โคsees it shadowing Earth around the Sun. Discovered by a team from the University of Hawaii, the space rock isn’t a true moon, gravitationally bound to our planet, but โขits orbital resonance creates the impression of a constant companion.
This โcelestial โขobject appears to follow Earth, moving atโ nearly โคthe same rate as it circles the Sun. While not a threat, the finding offers a rare prospect to study a “quasi-satellite” and provides insight into the complex dynamics of near-Earth objects. โAstronomers estimate 2025 PN7 โคhas been linked to Earth for approximately sixโ decades and will continue its unique orbital โdance until โaround 2083, โwhen its trajectory is expected to shift and it will drift into deep space.
The asteroid was first detected by researchers at the University of Hawaii. Its diameter is estimated to be between โฃ18 and 36 meters, comparable to the โฃheight of a multi-story building. Though relatively small, its orbital characteristics are what set it apart.
Unlike the Moon,2025 PN7 isn’t held in orbit by Earth’s gravity. Instead, it โฃmaintains a complexโฃ orbital relationship, remaining โฃin proximity without becomingโ a trueโ satellite. This type of orbital configuration is โขrelatively โrare, and 2025 PN7 is one of a handful of known quasi-satellitesโค of โขEarth.
The discovery is โคprompting further examination into the asteroid’s origins and its long-term orbital stability. While itsโ departure in 2083 marks the end of its current “companionship” with Earth,โค the โฃdata โขgathered during its time near our planet will be invaluableโ for understanding the population of near-Earth objects and the gravitational forces that shape their movements.
