2 replies to this topic

[bobdrake12]

http://news.bbc.co.u...ech/2251386.stm




Wednesday, 11 September, 2002, 12:56 GMT 13:56 UK

New 'moon' found around Earth

By Dr David Whitehouse - BBC News Online science editor




There could be another one


(excerpts)


An amateur astronomer may have found another moon of the Earth. Experts say it may have only just arrived.

Much uncertainty surrounds the mysterious object, designated J002E2. It could be a passing chunk of rock captured by the Earth's gravity, or it could be a discarded rocket casing coming back to our region of space.

It was discovered by Bill Yeung from his observatory in Arizona and reported as a passing Near-Earth Object. It was soon realised however that far from passing us it was in a 50-day orbit around the Earth.

Paul Chodas of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California says it must have just arrived or it would have been easily detected long ago. Calculations suggest it may have been captured earlier this year.

[bobdrake12]

FIND IT: Experienced amateur astronomers with 8-inch or larger telescopes should be able to spot J002E3. Click to see a sky map.

© 2002 SPACE.com, Inc.

[bobdrake12]

http://www.space.com...oon_991029.html


More Moons Around Earth? It’s Not So Loony

By Robin Lloyd - Senior Science Writer

posted: 11:42 am ET - 29 October 1999





(excerpts)


Earth has a second moon, of sorts, and could have many others, according to three astronomers who did calculations to describe orbital motions at gravitational balance points in space that temporarily pull asteroids into bizarre orbits near our planet.

The 3-mile-wide (5-km) satellite, which takes 770 years to complete a horseshoe-shaped orbit around Earth, is called Cruithne and will remain in a suspended state around Earth for at least 5,000 years.


© 2002 SPACE.com, Inc.