2016 HO3 is an asteroid that appears to orbit around Earth due to the mechanics of its peculiar orbit around the sun.
Credit: NASA-JPL
Posted on 10/20/2017 12:12:40 PM PDT by BenLurkin
In April of 2016, astronomers became aware of a distant object that appeared to be orbiting the Sun, but was also passing close enough to Earth that it could be periodically viewed using the most powerful telescopes. Since then, there has been ample speculation as to what this “Temporary Moon” could be...
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“While HO3 is close to the Earth, its small size – possibly not larger than 100 feet – makes it challenging target to study. Our observations show that HO3 rotates once every 28 minutes and is made of materials similar to asteroids.”
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Reddy and his colleagues also indicated that 2016 HO3 reflected light off its surface in a way that is similar to meteorites that have been studied here on Earth. This was another indication that 2016 HO3 has similar origins to other NEOs (some of which have entered our atmosphere as meteors) which are generally asteroids that were kicked out of the Main Belt by Jupiter’s gravity.
“In an effort to constrain its rotation period and surface composition, we observed 2016 HO3 on April 14 and 18 with the Large Binocular Telescope and the Discovery Channel Telescope,” Reddy said. “The derived rotation period and the spectrum of emitted light are not uncommon among small NEOs, suggesting that 2016 HO3 is a natural object of similar provenance to other small NEOs.”
But unlike other NEOs which periodically cross Earth’s orbit, “quasi-satellites” are distinguished by their rather unique orbits. In the case of 2016 HO3, it has an orbit that follows a similar path to that the Earth’s; but because it is not dominated by the Earth’s gravity, their two orbits are out of sync. This causes 2016 HO3 to make annual loops around the Earth as it orbits the Sun.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
You know the drill...
“That’s no moon...”
Maybe the terran Moon has a moonlet of its own? LOL
Closest approach is 9 million miles.
That’s a pretty graphic, but a little dizzying.
I think it’s supposed to be two worm holes in the fabric of Space-Time.....................
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3440872/posts
http://www.thescinewsreporter.com/2018/03/earth-has-captured-second-moon-says-nasa.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbbAnVU4rmY
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