Posted on 01/30/2019 7:46:18 PM PST by BenLurkin
A bizarre object orbiting Earth is reminding astronomers of an empty trash bag.
The unusual satellite is trekking around the planet in an almost absurd ellipse, dipping as close as 372.8 miles (600 kilometers) from the surface and then swinging out to a distance of 334,460 miles (538,261 km), or 1.4 times the average distance of the Earth to the moon.
According to Northolt Branch Observatories in London, the object is a light piece of material left over from a rocket launch. What it will do next is anyone's guess.
According to the observatories, the Haleakala (ATLAS-HKO) Observatory in Hawaii was the first to detect the object. The observatory is tasked with detecting near-Earth objects to warn of dangerous chunks that might impact the planet. This particular object is not dangerous, but it is weird.
Scientists dubbed it A10bMLz. According to the Northolt Branch Observatories, it's what is known as an "empty trash bag object." That means it is large enough to be spotted, but very light. Scientists at the London observatory calculated that A10bMLz is several meters in width, but weighs less than 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram).
Most likely, they wrote on the observatory Facebook page, the object is a bit of metallic foil flung into space during a rocket launch. It's not clear when A10bMLz entered orbit or what rocket took it spaceward.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Ping.
Any chance that its SCOTUS Justice Ruth Ginsburg?
I would think the number of launches that could put an object into such a strange orbital state would be pretty small.
the Haleakala (ATLAS-HKO) Observatory in Hawaii ... is tasked with detecting near-Earth objects to warn of dangerous chunks that might impact the planet. This particular object is not dangerous, but it is weird.
Obviously one of the "stars" fell off the big dome we live under on this Flat Earth. /s
Thanks BenLurkin.
An empty trashbag would be very useful. There’s a lot of trash in orbit.
It's either Glad or Hefty.
It’s probably stamped: - Return to Sender!
Paper or plastic?
Orbital surplus would be the job of the 21st century...if only it could be made efficient.
LOLOL!!!
Libs... Always throwing their trash out of the car window, while lecturing the rest of us about saving the planet.
“..if only it could be made efficient.”
Or profitable.
Trash is trash. Picking it up has gotta be charged to someone.
Clearly Trump’s fault.
Now all they’ve got to do is send an old guy up there with a white suit and cap, a broom, dust pan, and a grabber arm to fill he bag. And he would probably be union and make real bank.
rwood
Is Sam Mendes filming another movie?
Queue emotional theme music.
“Do you want to see the most beautiful thing I ever filmed? It was one of those days when it’s a minute away from snowing. And there’s this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it, right? And this bag was just... dancing with me ... like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. That’s the day I realized that there was this entire life behind things, and this incredibly benevolent force that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid. Ever. Video is a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember ... I need to remember...
Sometimes there’s so much beauty in the world ... I feel like I can’t take it... and my heart is just going to cave in.”
so is that what happens to weather balloons - they become solar wind kites? But the bigger question is, will it attract aliens?
benevolent force that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid.
LOL!
But, yes, that happens.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.