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Recently discovered satellite of Uranus denied moon status
Associated Press ^
| 12/28/2001 10:07 pm ET
| Associated Press
Posted on 12/29/2001 12:18:26 AM PST by mdittmar
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) A space rock just 25 miles across has failed to win recognition as the 21st moon of the planet Uranus.
The object was seen for the first and only time in 1999, when University of Arizona, Tucson astronomer Erich Karkoschka spied it in a series of 300 images taken of Uranus by the Voyager 2 spacecraft 13 years earlier.
The object was given the provisional name of S/1986 U 10.
However, the International Astronomical Union, the sole group charged with naming new solar system objects such as moons, has passed over the would-be moon.
The IAU wants a Hubble Space Telescope image of the object before it is satisfied the rock actually exists, according to The Planetary Society, a space exploration advocacy group.
Uranus has 20 confirmed moons that all take their names from characters in the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope.
There are 90 known moons in the solar system, excluding the handful that orbit asteroids. Saturn has the most, with 30 moons.
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
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I saw this headline and immediatly thought 'Lawsuit'
Scary.
1
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:26 AM PST
by
mdittmar
To: mdittmar
This sucks!
I say we FReep 'em until they squeal!
2
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:26 AM PST
by
Ken H
To: mdittmar
I'm sure the International Star Registry will be happy to name this moon after anyone you choose and record it in book form for all eternity.
3
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:26 AM PST
by
tbeatty
To: mdittmar
Poor Uranus. Not only is it the most mispronounced planet in the solar system, a planet whose name elicits giggles from school children, but now even her moons are getting dissed!
An ourage, I tell you!
4
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:26 AM PST
by
Drew68
To: mdittmar
I won't make the obvious joke about Uranus and Moon being in the same title.
Honest, I won't.
5
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:28 AM PST
by
randog
To: mdittmar
So, there's a rock orbiting Uranus. That's a whole lot more than I wanted to know.
Ok, go ahead, slap me down. It's midnight on the east coast and I'm taking a break from writing sappy poetry. Let the beatings commence.
To: Kalashnikov_68
Poor Uranus
That's funny I thought Uranus was a planet.
7
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:28 AM PST
by
Valin
To: mdittmar
"S/1986 U 10": The Rodney Dangerfield of the solar system.
To: mdittmar
Every time I read about Uranus, I bust out laughing. Can't help myself.
9
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:28 AM PST
by
exit82
To: mdittmar
Capt. Kirk is orbiting Uranus looking for Klingons.
To: mdittmar
A space rock just 25 miles across has failed to win recognition as the 21st moon of the planet Uranus.
Its not big enough for Uranus.
To: Ken H
This sucks! You are thinking of Jupiter!
12
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:29 AM PST
by
Nitro
To: mdittmar
Recently discovered satellite of Uranus denied moon status
There's a Joke in here somewhere..
13
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:29 AM PST
by
Jhoffa_
To: mdittmar
Will man ever travel to Uranus?
To: mdittmar
What's the problem, it's been a longstanding fact, that
too much moon can ruin the sanctity of Uranus.
15
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:29 AM PST
by
Deep_6
To: mdittmar
It was probably denied moon status because of its pro-life stance.
To: Kalashnikov_68
I must admit, I am over 40 and I haven't giggled ever, but I will chuckle from time to time!
What does toilet paper have in common with the USS Enterprise?
17
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:29 AM PST
by
Nitro
To: mdittmar
Why don't they name it after Jesse Jackson, there's a
moon of Uranus, if I ever saw one.
18
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:30 AM PST
by
Deep_6
To: Jhoffa_
See #17
19
posted on
12/29/2001 12:18:30 AM PST
by
Nitro
To: mdittmar
However, the International Astronomical Union, the sole group charged with naming new solar system objects such as moons, has passed over the would-be moon.I think the IAU is being a little too anal retentive.
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