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Asteroid Found with Rings! First-of-Its-Kind Discovery Stuns Astronomers
Space.com ^
| March 26, 2014
| Nola Taylor Redd
Posted on 03/26/2014 12:05:41 PM PDT by 12th_Monkey
Scientists have made a stunning discovery in the outer realm of the solar system — an asteroid with its own set of rings that orbits the sun between Saturn and Uranus. The space rock is the first non-planetary object ever found to have its own ring system, researchers say.
The pair of space rock rings encircle the asteroid Chariklo. They were most likely formed after a collision scattered debris around the asteroid, according to a new study unveiled today (March 27). The asteroid rings also suggests the presence of a still-undiscovered moon around Chariklo that's keeping them stable, researchers said.
"We weren’t looking for a ring and didn’t think small bodies like Chariklo had them at all, so the discovery — and the amazing amount of detail we saw in the system — came as a complete surprise!" study leader Felipe Braga-Ribas, of the National Observatory in Brazil said in a statement today.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: 10199chariklo; asteroid; catastrophism; centaur; chariklo; nearchallenge; saturn; space; thomasvandflandern; tomvanflandern; tvf; uranus; xplanets
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To: trad_anglican
It was funny last night. My 7 yr old, trying to support her grandmother, said “grammy uses the latest science as her reference”. To which “grammy” retorted, “no, I only use the BEST science as my referece.”
After which I ask - “and just how do you determine that?”
21
posted on
03/26/2014 12:33:23 PM PDT
by
MrB
(The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
To: Night Hides Not
22
posted on
03/26/2014 12:34:15 PM PDT
by
12th_Monkey
(One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
To: trad_anglican
23
posted on
03/26/2014 12:34:42 PM PDT
by
Fuzz
To: miliantnutcase
I thought so too.
Heck, I didn’t even know there were asteroids that far out.
24
posted on
03/26/2014 12:35:19 PM PDT
by
12th_Monkey
(One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
To: 12th_Monkey
Heck, I didn’t even know there were asteroids that far out.Just watch these scientists go crazy when the asteroid changes course and heads towards the Monolith.
25
posted on
03/26/2014 12:38:44 PM PDT
by
Night Hides Not
(For every Ted Cruz we send to DC, I can endure 2-3 "unviable" candidates that beat incumbents.)
To: John W
Completely unexpected! Astronomers’ beebers stunned!
26
posted on
03/26/2014 12:39:28 PM PDT
by
Jack Hydrazine
(Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
To: Night Hides Not
27
posted on
03/26/2014 12:41:52 PM PDT
by
12th_Monkey
(One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
To: 12th_Monkey
Pluto got a raw deal. Thanks Neil Degrasse Tyson He apologised to Dr. Sheldon Cooper on the Big Bang Theory, but Shellie didn't accept it. Neither do I...
28
posted on
03/26/2014 12:44:07 PM PDT
by
rjsimmon
(The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
To: 12th_Monkey
29
posted on
03/26/2014 12:47:03 PM PDT
by
GeronL
(Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
To: rjsimmon
30
posted on
03/26/2014 12:47:09 PM PDT
by
12th_Monkey
(One man one vote is a big fail, when the "one" man is an idiot.)
To: MrB
Very little funnier than something pointing out Uranus. I think you're talking out Uranus...
31
posted on
03/26/2014 12:58:18 PM PDT
by
null and void
( Everything evil in the world may not be Islamic but everything Islamic is evil.)
To: null and void
32
posted on
03/26/2014 1:00:13 PM PDT
by
MrB
(The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
33
posted on
03/26/2014 1:01:43 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/alreadyposted/index)
To: Rebelbase
An alternative would be the use the Greek pronunciation of the god the planet is named for--Ouranos: oo-rah-NOSS.
Maybe they should have stuck with the name Herschel, after the discoverer.
To: MrB
35
posted on
03/26/2014 1:02:44 PM PDT
by
null and void
( Everything evil in the world may not be Islamic but everything Islamic is evil.)
To: null and void
I can see that no matter what, you’re going to beat me in a race to the bottom...
36
posted on
03/26/2014 1:03:52 PM PDT
by
MrB
(The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
To: 12th_Monkey
Cool.
The first thing to my mind when these discoveries are made is “The science is settled. The debate is over.”
To: rjsimmon
If they are able to count the rings, they can determine how old it is.
38
posted on
03/26/2014 1:05:21 PM PDT
by
SampleMan
(Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
To: MrB
Awwwww, you quit so early. I was hoping to play my hole card...
39
posted on
03/26/2014 1:05:52 PM PDT
by
null and void
( Everything evil in the world may not be Islamic but everything Islamic is evil.)
To: 12th_Monkey
Always get a kick out listening to folks who think that they know how things work find out they had no idea....
40
posted on
03/26/2014 1:09:51 PM PDT
by
Nifster
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