The true fact that is creating a new wave in the world of astronomy is that the Moon is not the only natural satellite. Among the small moons orbiting our planet, one has become more clearly evident in recent years, and curiosity about this has increased steadily. The most notable among this group consists of objects only a few meters in scale.
Currently, eight small asteroids are orbiting around Earth, behaving like satellites by circling the Sun. These objects are generally explained with the concept of a quasi-satellite; when examined closely, we see that they are the result of complex dynamical interactions between Earth and the Sun. The newest member, named 2025 PN7, has been structurally orbiting near Earth for about ten years, and its size is limited to just a few tens of meters. These tiny entities stay more than a few million kilometers away from Earth, and their discovery was relatively recent, completed just last month.
The region called the “Peak Sphere,” where Earth’s central gravitational influence dominates, extends up to about 1.5 million kilometers away. While passing through a tiny asteroid in this enclosed area, there is a possibility of temporarily being captured and turning into a mini satellite. It is also believed that 2025 PN7 has been orbiting in this region for many years; however, it seems likely to detach from Earth after some time.
Previous data about this object indicates that it was also observed in archival records in 2014, but scientists only recently noticed it through new observations. The motion models suggest that the object has been in a resonant orbit for several decades and will remain here in the coming years. However, this proximity offers an opportunity for spacecraft to conduct easier operations against these objects.
Another quasi-satellite, 469219 Kamoʻoalewa, is among the objects targeted for visit by China’s Tianwen-2 mission launched in May. This mission is scheduled to depart next year, reach this satellite, and will probably start collecting samples the following year. Thus, more concrete data about these small objects orbiting near Earth can be obtained.
