Astronomers Discover Smallest Known Quasi-Moon Orbiting Earth

Astronomers have identified a small quasi-moon named 2025 PN7 that has been traveling near Earth for possibly 60 years, orbiting the Sun in a horseshoe-shaped path and occasionally coming close enough to be detected. Meanwhile, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has provided groundbreaking observations of a carbon-rich circumplanetary disk around the young exoplanet CT Cha b, located about 625 light-years from Earth, which is believed to be a birthplace for moons. The disk’s chemical composition, rich in complex organic molecules, offers new insights into the early stages of moon formation, resembling processes theorized to have occurred in our solar system over 4 billion years ago. These findings enhance our understanding of planetary system evolution and the potential abundance of moons in the galaxy, some of which might harbor conditions suitable for life. The discoveries underscore the importance of advanced technology and observatories in revealing celestial phenomena previously hidden from view.