Earth Must Have Another Moon, Say Astronomers

MIT Technology Review Physics Blog ^ | 12/20/2011 | kfc

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Back in 2006, the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona noticed that a mysterious body had begun orbiting the Earth. This object had a spectrum that was remarkably similar to the titanium white paint used on Saturn V rocket stages and, indeed, a number of rocket stages are known to orbit the Sun close to Earth.

But this was not an object of ours. Instead, 2006 RH120, as it became known, turned out to be a tiny asteroid just a few metres across--a natural satellite like the Moon. It was captured by Earth's gravity in September 2006 and orbited us until June 2007 when it wandered off into the Solar System in search of a more interesting neighbour.

[SunkenCiv]

Otherwise we’d have to do the one-cheek sneak, and no one wants that. ;’)

http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/cruithne/index

[TheOldLady]

Well, at least it didn’t post a vanity to attempt establishing its conservative credentials before it became a sleeper troll.

Gee, it should be waking up any day now...

Better linkie thingy:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:cruithne/index?brevity=full;tab=comments

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, that gives me an idea... if there’s ever an asteroid headed for Earth impact, one of your Zot messages may just do the trick...

[TheOldLady]

Sure! Anything I can do to help.

[SunkenCiv]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_RH120