Astronomers Confirm 11 More Moons for Jupiter

Reuters ^ | May 16, 2002 | Reuters

[RadioAstronomer]

"That's right, air-heads. You, too, can have a Jovian moon named after you or a relative. Your Jovian Moon will be recorded in a niftily-named book that is copyrighted soley for the purpose of impressing suckers, as there will never be more than one copy of this book, which will never, ever be consulted by ANY Astronomer for any professional purpose whatsoever. Call now, operators are waiting to take YOUR Jovian Moon order. Please have your credit cards and your intense desire to be taken advantage of handy."

ROTFLMAO. I see that add every year for stars at xmas time!

[Movemout]

"How large does a satellite have to be to be considered a “moon” or is that just a common phrase that doesn’t have an actual astronomical definition?"

It just has to be a satellite. Pluto is more interesting in this regard. Some are contemplating removing it from planet status because it is basically moon-sized.

[RadioAstronomer]

"They all have retrograde orbits, meaning they go around Jupiter in the opposite direction to the planet's rotation".

Does anyone know or would please explain,for the layman,how that works or how that could be?

A planet rotates (spins like a top). The moons usually circle the planet in the same direction as the planet is spinning. If a moon is circling in the opposite direction, it is a retrograde orbit.

One other interesting note, two asteroids (1999 LE31 and 2000 DG8) are moving in a retrograde orbit around the sun.

[RadioAstronomer]

Can't you swing this thread around so we pay proper respect to the Seventh Planet? (The name of which we dare not utter.)

Hey I'm certainly not going to be the first one on this thread to mention either Uranus or asteroids!

[longshadow]

ROTFLMAO. I see that add every year for stars at xmas time!

Christmas time? I heard the bloody thing LAST NIGHT! These people have no shame. I'm not sure who is worse; the scoundrels who perpetrate this scam, or the fools who waste their money getting "a star named after them."

[longshadow]

Can't you swing this thread around so we pay proper respect to the Seventh Planet? (The name of which we dare not utter.)

Blasphemer!

The correct apphilation to show proper respect is "S*v*nth Pl*n*t".

[Lazamataz]

I claim them all for France.

[eddie willers]

Hey I'm certainly not going to be the first one on this thread to mention either Uranus or asteroids!

I recommend Preparation H.

[Romulus]

Our own moon has a retrograde orbit. What I'd like to know is whether they're randomly distributed, or if there's some mechanical rule that makes retrograde orbits more probable.

[PatrickHenry]

I suggest this notation for the unmentionable Seventh Planet:
U*anus. Lemme see now ... no, somehow I suspect that won't work.
Perhaps *anus. No, not much better.
How about Uranu*
Or maybe Uran*s
I donno, guys. Maybe if you all paid me I could publish the suggestions in a legally copyrighted book, deposited with the Library of Congress (an official agency of the US government!) and then everyone would have his own name for the unmentionable Seventh Planet preserved forever.

[Dementon]

"Wildly elliptical," wouldn't you say?

LOL!

[longshadow]

Maybe if you all paid me I could publish the suggestions in a legally copyrighted book, deposited with the Library of Congress (an official agency of the US government!) and then everyone would have his own name for the unmentionable Seventh Planet preserved forever.

Now you've got it..... a few radio ads, and you'll be in business.

[longshadow]

Our own moon has a retrograde orbit.

The sun crosses the sky from East to West, because the Earth rotates in the opposite direction (West to East, if you will). Each night, the moon takes up a position in our sky more Easterly of it's position the night before, meaning it moves from West to East, the same as the direction of rotation of the Earth.

Hence, the moon has a PROGRADE orbit, not retrograde.

[Romulus]

Yep you're right.

[PatrickHenry]

... a few radio ads, and you'll be in business.

I have another idea. Never mind naming the seventh planet or the moons of Jupiter. I've got something really big in mind. I'm willing to officially name my toes after ten lucky freepers! First come, first served. I'll go in sequence, starting with the left side (little toe) and working right across until all ten are accounted for. Just think of it! Your very own FR screen name will be associated forever with my feet! Send me $100 in US currency via US mail and I'll officially name one of my very own toes after you! But hurry, they'll be going fast and you don't want to miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You'll get an email officially notifying you of which toe is "yours," and it will become an heirloom (the email, not the toe) that you can pass on to your children as a permanent momento of this unique transaction. And, as an extra bonus, I'll donate the 10th contribution to FreeRepublic, officially designated as the "PatrickHenry Digital" donation. Now where else can you find a deal like this?

[RightWhale]

Any natural object, even a speck of sand, that is orbiting the larger object could be considered a moon. Some orbits are highly unusual and sometimes objects are captured by gravity to become moons and other times moons are lost. These small asteroid-like bodies are all moons for the time being.

[longshadow]

I have another idea. Never mind naming the seventh planet or the moons of Jupiter. I've got something really big in mind. I'm willing to officially name my toes after ten lucky freepers!

I can see you have a big future in marketing....

[longshadow]

Yep you're right.

No biggy; as long as you didn't characterize it as "Wildly Retrograde".....

;-)

[WhiteGuy]

WOW!

We'd better increase their funding 20%.

or we may never know if there are any more moons out there.

(Maybe we'll be able to buy "Space Food Sticks" again)