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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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To: presidio9
Pink Floyd - Dark Side of 2003 YN17
James Bond movie - 2003 YN17 Raker
2003 YN17 Unit Zappa

21 posted on 03/29/2004 1:18:25 PM PST by Cymbaline
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To: presidio9
lol
22 posted on 03/29/2004 1:21:34 PM PST by bmwcyle (<a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/" target="_blank">miserable failure)
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To: b4its2late
LOL!! Thanks for the chortle!
23 posted on 03/29/2004 1:23:55 PM PST by bonfire
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To: FateAmenableToChange
Sorry - I've been reading Clarke's testimony today and got stuck in freakish conspiracy mode.

"..and where are my strawberries?"

24 posted on 03/29/2004 1:40:48 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: bonfire
Don't let the stars get in your eyes

Don't let the 2003 YN17 break your heart........

25 posted on 03/29/2004 1:42:49 PM PST by Neenah ("It's Always Something!")
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Comment #26 Removed by Moderator

To: presidio9
This just might be the funniest thread I've ever seen, already!

The thing looks like its flipping us off, to me...Lord only knows what THAT Rorshach Test means...lol...

2003 YN17---sounds like a movie rating. Maybe there is a scene where someone gets to fooling around and 2003 YN17s somebody...
27 posted on 03/29/2004 1:56:07 PM PST by EternalVigilance
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To: tiggs
2003 YN17 Unit Zappa
28 posted on 03/29/2004 1:59:36 PM PST by reagan_fanatic (So you're a feminist - isn't that cute!)
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To: tiggs
Streets full of people, all alone

Rows full of houses, never home

Church full of singing, out of tune

Everyone's gone to the 2003 YN17

29 posted on 03/29/2004 2:03:57 PM PST by Neenah ("It's Always Something!")
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To: dirtboy
LOL, you've been staring at too many billboards.
30 posted on 03/29/2004 2:05:12 PM PST by Teacher317
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To: dirtboy; dighton; mhking; aculeus; hellinahandcart; Constitution Day; Tijeras_Slim; BlueLancer; ...

Absolut Asteroid

ROTFL

This is one of the funniest threads I've seen in a long while.

You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, 2003 YN17
Dancing queen, feel the beat from the tambourine
oh yeah
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen

You're a teaser, you turn 'em on
Leave them burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance

31 posted on 03/29/2004 2:06:25 PM PST by Thinkin' Gal
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To: dirtboy
Absolut Asteroid

And each time

It passes

We have time

To warn the masses

And even though they must

It looks like it'll never hit us...

Burma Shave.

32 posted on 03/29/2004 2:31:31 PM PST by mhking
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To: Thinkin' Gal
We like the 2003 YN17.
33 posted on 03/29/2004 2:32:57 PM PST by In_25_words_or_less
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To: presidio9
Say hello to our new moon

Oh, for the love of Mike, pull your pants up.

And for the record, I am interested in neither bulldogs or pressed fruit bowls, so you just keep right on walkin', Mister Man. ;)
34 posted on 03/29/2004 2:34:10 PM PST by Xenalyte (in memory of James Edward Peck, my grandfather, who passed on 3/23/04)
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To: theDentist
Blue 2003 YN17 of Kentucky, keep on shinin'...
35 posted on 03/29/2004 2:34:16 PM PST by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge.)
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To: skinkinthegrass
"..and where are my strawberries?"

Lol

36 posted on 03/29/2004 2:34:57 PM PST by SupplySider
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To: Bacon Man; humblegunner; pax_et_bonum
Comedy gold ping! (I like the moon.)
37 posted on 03/29/2004 2:35:40 PM PST by Xenalyte (in memory of James Edward Peck, my grandfather, who passed on 3/23/04)
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To: uglybiker
>> Preparation H bomb <<

ROTFL!!! Good one. Thanks for the laugh!
38 posted on 03/29/2004 2:48:02 PM PST by appalachian_dweller (The RIGHT of THE PEOPLE to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.)
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To: Xenalyte; Bacon Man; Hap; pax_et_bonum; Allegra
Bark at the 2003 YN17!!!


39 posted on 03/29/2004 2:49:16 PM PST by humblegunner
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Well, it's a marvelous night for a 2003 YN17 dance,
With the stars up above in your eyes,
A fantabulous night to make romance,
Beneath the cover of October skies...

Hmmm...

And if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land,
Oh if I ever lose my hands,
Oh if I ever lose my hands, lose my plough, lose my land
I won't have to work no more.

Oh, I'm being followed by a 2003 YN17 shadow, 2003 YN17 shadow, 2003 YN17 shadow...
Leapin and a hoppin' on a 2003 YN17 shadow, 2003 YN17 shadow, 2003 YN17 shadow...

40 posted on 03/29/2004 2:51:30 PM PST by general_re (The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
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