James Webb Space Telescope reveals clues into moon formation
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is giving scientists an unprecedented glimpse at how moons might form around distant exoplanets.
NASA has confirmed a small asteroid named 2025 PN7 is a quasi-moon of Earth.The space rock orbits the sun at a similar pace to Earth, making it appear to follow our planet.This quasi-moon is expected to remain in Earth’s vicinity until around 2083.
Earth just got a new plus one in space.
NASA confirmed that a small asteroid named 2025 PN7 is officially a quasi-moon, meaning it’s not a real moon but rather a cosmic tag-along that’s been pacing Earth’s orbit for many decades.
Discovered by the University of Hawaii, this space rock is about 18 to 36 meters wide but moves in sync with the Earth.
However, you won’t see it lighting up the night sky anytime soon as it swings close enough to seem like it’s following us, but it’s actually keeping its distance.
Here is everything to know about the “second moon.”
Does Earth have 2 moons?
Not exactly. Earth still has one true moon, but it recently picked up the “quasi-moon,” a small asteroid named 2025 PN7. This space rock doesn’t orbit Earth directly like the moon does. Instead, it loops around the sun at nearly the same pace as we do, making it look like it’s following our planet through space.
How long will 2nd moon follow Earth?
NASA says that 2025 PN7 has probably been tagging along with us for about 60 years already. It’s expected to stay in Earth’s gravitational neighborhood until around 2083 before drifting away.
How does having 2 moons affect Earth?
The “second moon” won’t affect us in any way. 2025 PN7 never comes closer than about 4 million kilometers; that’s 10 times farther than the moon, so it poses no threat to Earth and has no impact on tides, gravity or day-to-day life.
It’s main influence is scientific, helping astronomers better understand how asteroids move.
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