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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: humblegunner; Xenalyte
2003 YN17 shine
61
posted on
03/29/2004 4:54:15 PM PST
by
pax_et_bonum
(Always finish what you st)
To: presidio9
I'd like to 2003YN17 Hillary.
To: presidio9
See these SIMILAR threads:
63
posted on
03/29/2004 5:10:11 PM PST
by
RonDog
To: presidio9
What did Bush know, and when did he know it? It is all Bush's fault! We must all vote for Kerry or we are doomed!
{/sarcasm}
64
posted on
03/29/2004 5:10:12 PM PST
by
Redleg Duke
(Stir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
To: kevkrom
2003 YN17 Over Miami!
65
posted on
03/29/2004 5:11:33 PM PST
by
Redleg Duke
(Stir the pot...don't let anything settle to the bottom where the lawyers can feed off of it!)
To: aculeus; Thinkin' Gal; martin_fierro; mikrofon
"Bang! Zoom! Straight to the 2003 YN17!"
Comment #67 Removed by Moderator
Comment #68 Removed by Moderator
To: Charles Henrickson; Thinkin' Gal; hellinahandcart; dighton; aculeus
Romeo: Lady, by yonder blessed 2003 YN17 I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--
Juliet: O, swear not by the 2003 YN17, th' inconstant 2003 YN17!
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
69
posted on
03/29/2004 5:35:24 PM PST
by
general_re
(The doors to Heaven and Hell are adjacent and identical... - Nikos Kazantzakis)
To: b4its2late
"So, it's an asteroid when it's behind us and a headeroid when it's ahead of us?"
And when it is captured on film, it is a polaroid?
70
posted on
03/29/2004 5:47:59 PM PST
by
lawdude
(Liberalism: A failure every time it is tried!)
71
posted on
03/29/2004 5:52:53 PM PST
by
DefCon
72
posted on
03/29/2004 5:57:12 PM PST
by
DefCon
To: general_re
I found one people can actually sing!
if you need some good loving
call on me
and if you need some good hugging
call on me baby
I'll be right here at home
all you gotta do is pick up the telephone and dial now
2003 YN17
that's my number
2003 YN17
To: Charles Henrickson
Helloooo, moon!
74
posted on
03/29/2004 6:04:23 PM PST
by
mikrofon
(a Carney impersonator, but the pic fits)
To: DefCon
Don't go Kweisi on us, I'm begging you.
To: Charles Henrickson
To: tiggs
77
posted on
03/29/2004 7:32:52 PM PST
by
Neenah
("It's Always Something!")
To: cuz_it_aint_their_money
lol.. they were ahead od ther time!
To: KingNo155
*of
To: aculeus
It's a keeper ....
80
posted on
03/30/2004 4:40:12 AM PST
by
BlueLancer
(Der Elite Møøsënspåånkængrüppen ØberKømmååndø (EMØØK))
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