Earth May Get a Second Moon by 2026, Astronomers Say

For most of human history, Earth has been known to have just one moon — the familiar celestial companion that lights up our night sky, influences our tides, and has inspired mythologies across cultures. But astronomers are now talking about a second moon — not in the traditional sense of a permanently bound satellite like our Moon, but a curious cosmic companion that will accompany Earth in its journey around the sun for several decades.

In late 2025, researchers identified a small asteroid designated 2025 PN7 that appears to share Earth’s orbit. While it won’t become a true, permanently gravitationally bound moon like our existing Moon, 2025 PN7 fits the rare category of quasi-moon — an object that stays near Earth and follows a path around the sun that closely mirrors our planet’s own journey.

What Is 2025 PN7?

2025 PN7 is a small asteroid roughly the size of a city bus, around 60–70 feet (about 18–20 meters) across. It was first spotted in early August 2025 by telescopes involved in systematic surveys of near-Earth space, such as the Pan-STARRS observatory in Hawaii. By tracking its orbit, astronomers realized that the rock isn’t on a typical path around the sun — instead, its orbit is in sync with Earth’s, staying near our planet for an extended stretch of time.

This orbital condition — called a mean motion resonance — means the asteroid takes nearly the same amount of time to circle the sun as Earth does. From our perspective, 2025 PN7 seems to orbit around us, although it’s not bound by Earth’s gravity in the same way the Moon is. In technical terms, it’s a quasi-satellite, known informally as a quasi-moon.

A Long-Term Visitor

One of the most intriguing aspects of this discovery is how long this companion is expected to stick around. Simulations of 2025 PN7’s orbit indicate that it will continue sharing our orbital neighborhood until roughly 2083 — around 50 to 60 years from now. That is far longer than many previously identified Earth companions in similar states.

This extended residence time contrasts with other temporary moon phenomena. For instance, in late 2024, another small asteroid — 2024 PT5 — became a temporary “mini-moon” when it entered a genuine orbit around Earth for about two months. These minimoons are very different from quasi-moons because Earth’s gravity actually traps them temporarily before they escape back into solar orbit.

2025 PN7, on the other hand, never becomes a true satellite in the classical sense. Its motion remains governed primarily by the sun’s gravity, and its apparent closeness to Earth is a result of the closely matched pace of the two bodies around the sun rather than Earth’s gravity pulling it into a stable orbit.

Why It Matters (and Why It Doesn’t Really Affect Earth)

The idea of Earth “getting a second moon” makes sensational headlines, but scientists are careful to emphasize that this doesn’t mean our world is suddenly gaining a second long-term satellite like the Moon. The asteroid won’t change Earth’s tides, will not noticeably affect our nights with extra light, and poses no threat to the planet. Its closest approaches remain millions of miles away — far beyond the Moon’s orbit.

Still, the discovery is scientifically valuable. Objects like 2025 PN7 offer researchers a unique laboratory to study the dynamics of small bodies in the solar system, testing models of orbital resonance, solar radiation effects, and how tiny gravitational influences shape trajectories over decades. Each new quasi-moon adds data to help astronomers refine their understanding of near-Earth space and the evolution of small asteroids.

From a broader perspective, this discovery also highlights just how dynamic and populated our cosmic neighborhood really is. Earth doesn’t just have one official moon — a variety of small asteroids, minimoon events, and co-orbital bodies occasionally come into view, reminding us that the space around our planet is far from empty.

Looking Forward

Over the coming years, astronomers will continue to monitor 2025 PN7’s orbit with ever greater precision. While it won’t join our official list of permanent moons, it will remain a fascinating example of the kinds of unusual orbits small bodies can inhabit within the solar system. The years leading up to 2026 and beyond will be a chance for scientists — and the public — to see Earth’s sometimes surprising cosmic company.