Overview
- The find, reported in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society, traces to a Pan‑STARRS detection on August 29, with media citing archival sightings as far back as 2014.
- 2025 PN7 follows an Earth‑like solar orbit as a rare quasi‑moon in the Arjuna class, exhibiting co‑orbital dynamics that only make it detectable during brief visibility windows.
- Closest approach modeling places it at roughly 299,000 to 299,337 kilometers from Earth, near the Moon’s distance, with an average separation around lunar range.
- Analyses suggest the object has lingered near Earth for about 60 years, with most reports projecting decades more of companionship, though some coverage cites up to 128 years.
- Estimated at roughly 19 to 30 meters across, it is likely a natural rocky body with no indicated impact risk, and researchers are seeking additional astrometry and characterization.