Arjuna asteroid class

Astronomers have announced the discovery of a new quasi-satellite of Earth, asteroid 2025 PN7, confirmed in September 2025. The object was first observed on August 2 by the Pan-STARRS 1 telescope in Hawaii.

2025 PN7 belongs to the Arjuna asteroid class, named after the swift and elusive hero of the Mahabharata. Like other Arjuna asteroids, it follows an orbit very similar to Earth’s, giving the appearance of “hovering” near the planet, although it is not gravitationally bound to Earth.

This asteroid is the seventh known quasi-satellite of Earth, enhancing astronomers’ understanding of the dynamic population of near-Earth objects. Arjuna-class asteroids are known to approach Earth more closely than most other asteroid families and can occasionally become temporary mini-moons.

The Arjuna asteroid belt is a loosely defined group of small asteroids with Earth-like orbits. While most do not maintain sustained co-orbital interactions with Earth, their study provides valuable insights into the behavior and evolution of near-Earth asteroids.