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New Earth-Like Quasi-Satellite Asteroid Offers Exploration Potential

10/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers discovered a new quasi-satellite of Earth, asteroid 2025 PN7, detected by Pan-STARRS1 in August 2025.
The asteroid measures 19–30 meters and has followed an Earth-like solar orbit for over 60 years.
It is not gravitationally bound to Earth, though it behaves like a second moon.
Its orbit brings it as close as 186,000 miles and as far as 185 million miles, offering opportunities for missions and asteroid mining.

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Story summary

Astronomers discovered a new quasi-satellite of Earth, asteroid 2025 PN7, detected by Pan-STARRS1 in August 2025.
The asteroid measures 19–30 meters and has followed an Earth-like solar orbit for over 60 years.
It is not gravitationally bound to Earth, though it behaves like a second moon.
Its orbit brings it as close as 186,000 miles and as far as 185 million miles, offering opportunities for missions and asteroid mining.