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Say hello to our new moon
AFP ^
| Fri Mar 26, 2004
Posted on 03/29/2004 12:13:58 PM PST by presidio9
Earth has acquired a "quasi-moon" -- an asteroid that will encircle our planet for the next couple of years while it orbits the sun on a horseshoe-shaped path, according to a report to be published on Saturday in New Scientist.
The asteroid, 2003 YN17, "is probably a chunk of debris" from an impact between a larger space rock and the surface of the moon, the British weekly says.
2003 YN17's orbital plane is roughly the same as the earth's, but its unusual path, compounded by a corkscrew-like track, means that sometimes it is ahead of us and sometimes it is behind.
"Since 1996, its path has taken it round the earth, making it a quasi-satellite. This phase will last until 2006," the report says.
The finders are a team led by Paul Chodas, an asteroid specialist at NASA (news - web sites)'s famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
Two other "quasi-moons" -- temporary fellow-travellers that loop around the earth for while as they girdle the sun -- have been spotted in recent years: Cluithne and asteroid 2002 AA29.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2002aa29; 2003aa29; 2003yn17; 2006rh120; cluithne; cruithne; minimoon; minimoons; moon; quasisatellite; quasisatellites; rh120
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1
posted on
03/29/2004 12:13:58 PM PST
by
presidio9
To: presidio9
means that sometimes it is ahead of us and sometimes it is behind.So, it's an asteroid when it's behind us and a headeroid when it's ahead of us?
2
posted on
03/29/2004 12:21:34 PM PST
by
b4its2late
(I love defenseless animals, especially in a good gravy.)
To: presidio9
Earth has acquired a "quasi-moon" -- an asteroid that will encircle our planet...They mean it will CIRCLE our planet.
To: b4its2late
When it burns up it becomes a hemorrhoid, right?
4
posted on
03/29/2004 12:29:39 PM PST
by
CJ Wolf
To: b4its2late
means that sometimes it is ahead of us and sometimes it is behind. So, it's an asteroid when it's behind us and a headeroid when it's ahead of us?
And when it's a boy it's a 'Himeroid'.
5
posted on
03/29/2004 12:29:39 PM PST
by
jtminton
(<><)
To: presidio9
I see 2003 YN17,
2003 YN17 sees me.
Good night, 2003 YN17.
Good night, me.
6
posted on
03/29/2004 12:35:45 PM PST
by
shezza
(The man in that moon looks like a frog!)
To: shezza
Fly me to 2003 YN17,
and let me play among the stars...
7
posted on
03/29/2004 12:41:52 PM PST
by
presidio9
(protectionism is a false god)
To: presidio9
Funny! I'd swear that's the same picture they used in all those old BattleStar Glactica shows.
8
posted on
03/29/2004 12:41:54 PM PST
by
cuz_it_aint_their_money
(The only way liberals win national elections is by pretending they're not liberals. - Rush Limbaugh)
To: presidio9
compounded by a corkscrew-like track, means that sometimes it is ahead of us and sometimes it is behind. So it's path flip-flops?
Shall we name this Asteroid Kerry?
9
posted on
03/29/2004 12:44:40 PM PST
by
NorCoGOP
(We Don't Need a 9/10 President in a 9/11 World - Vote Bush)
To: shezza
"...Don't go out tonight
Bound to take your life,
There's a Bad 2003 YN17 on the rise...."
10
posted on
03/29/2004 12:45:43 PM PST
by
theDentist
(JOHN KERRY never saw a TAX he would not HIKE !)
To: presidio9
Absolut Asteroid
11
posted on
03/29/2004 12:46:58 PM PST
by
dirtboy
(Howard, we hardly knew ye. Not that we're complaining, mind you...)
To: CJ Wolf
When it burns up it becomes a hemorrhoid, right?Yes, but only while it's burning.
That is, of course, unless we slap it with a Preparation H bomb.
12
posted on
03/29/2004 12:48:25 PM PST
by
uglybiker
(Too much horsepower is just enough. -- Carrol Shelby)
To: theDentist
2003 YN17 Riverrrrr....
13
posted on
03/29/2004 12:50:38 PM PST
by
AngryJawa
(Whatever.)
To: AngryJawa
When 2003 YN17 hits your eye
like a big pizza pie, that's amore!
14
posted on
03/29/2004 12:56:31 PM PST
by
presidio9
(protectionism is a false god)
To: Arthur McGowan
They have spell checkers, not logic checkers.
To: presidio9
"By the light of 2003 YN17...
Of the silvery 2003 YN17..."
16
posted on
03/29/2004 1:05:44 PM PST
by
shezza
To: Arthur McGowan
an asteroid that will encircle our planet... They mean it will CIRCLE our planet.Not if we blow it into tiny smithereens that spread out in a disk like cloud. Sounds like NASA (which is only an extra letter removed from the NSA - did they really think they could fool us that easily?) is planning on testing some new toys and let their dastardly plans slip to the press . . . .
Sorry - I've been reading Clarke's testimony today and got stuck in freakish conspiracy mode.
To: shezza
Blue 2003 YN17
You saw me standing alone...
18
posted on
03/29/2004 1:10:34 PM PST
by
kevkrom
(The John Kerry Songbook: www.imakrom.com/kerrysongs)
To: b4its2late
It's a hemorrhoid when it's behind us.
19
posted on
03/29/2004 1:12:58 PM PST
by
F.J. Mitchell
(Rat Speak for once means what it say's: "we'll do 'ANYTHING' to beat GW Bush.!")
To: presidio9
They found Jimmy Hoffa!
20
posted on
03/29/2004 1:17:56 PM PST
by
Zathras
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