Earth Has Captured a Second Moon, Says NASA

Not exactly a brand new find, but I never heard of this until this morning.
We have a "mini-moon"!

Scientists have identified a second, mini-moon orbiting our planet that has probably only been around for about 100 years, reports NASA. This second moon looks to be a recently captured asteroid, and like a mistress, its subtle dance with Earth may be fleeting, only sticking around for a few centuries.

It is a small asteroid, only 120 x 300, and is no threat to the earth or to our moon.

The asteroid's loops around Earth drift a little ahead or behind from year to year, but when they drift too far forward or backward, Earth's gravity is just strong enough to reverse the drift and hold onto the asteroid so that it never wanders farther away than about 100 times the distance of the moon,

Earth Has Captured a Second Moon, Says NASA

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

I hope Luna doesn't find out about this.

Neat article.

How big is this " small moon ?" ...

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

120 x 300 what?

Meters, miles, inches?

a reply to: Meldionne1

About the size of a death star.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

120 x 300 what?

Meters, miles, inches?

120 feet wide by 300 feet long appx.
An extremely "mini" moon.
It's supposedly been orbiting us for around 100 years.

originally posted by: Meldionne1
How big is this " small moon ?" ...

As the article states 120 feet by 300 feet.
Very, very small.

Does nobody read the articles anymore?

a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Wonder what its made of?

Could it have been a portion of our own Moon that's somehow been blown off and into another orbit?

Or did Earth capture the thing?

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Wonder what its made of?

Could it have been a portion of our own Moon that's somehow been blown off and into another orbit?

Or did Earth capture the thing?

Not really sure. I learned this through a family member that works for them so I'm sure when he has more info I will hear of it.

Apparently we had a small companion asteroid before, but it only remained in our orbit for around 10 years and then left.

That must make the number of quasi-moons at least five now:

Asteroid 2010 SO16 and Cruithne

www.space.com...

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Wonder what its made of?

Could it have been a portion of our own Moon that's somehow been blown off and into another orbit?

Or did Earth capture the thing?

It's obviously made from alien star stuff. Like our moon, which is metal and hollow. Don't you know anythings!!!11

As per the artivle it's an asteroid, caught in the orbit of the earth. And very far away. As I'm sure a lot of satellites are.

Bam, we're an alien machine trap, I knew it !!

originally posted by: SummerRain

It's obviously made from alien star stuff. Like our moon, which is metal and hollow. Don't you know anythings!!!11

As per the artivle it's an asteroid, caught in the orbit of the earth. And very far away. As I'm sure a lot of satellites are.

Bam, we're an alien machine trap, I knew it !!

It could be Dr. Evil.
Maybe Mini-Me wanted his own Mini Death Star!

The quasi-satellite was given the label of asteroid 2016 HO3, though surely it ought to be in line for a more charismatic title sometime soon. Scientists also assure that the space rock is no threat to our planet or to our main squeeze, the moon.

If this little moon sticks around, it's definitely going to need a name...

a reply to: snowspirit

Button Moon.

originally posted by: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

originally posted by: SummerRain

It's obviously made from alien star stuff. Like our moon, which is metal and hollow. Don't you know anythings!!!11

As per the artivle it's an asteroid, caught in the orbit of the earth. And very far away. As I'm sure a lot of satellites are.

Bam, we're an alien machine trap, I knew it !!

It could be Dr. Evil.
Maybe Mini-Me wanted his own Mini Death Star!

I don't know why I was banned just now. But it sucks.

I never broke any rules. Did you tell Heff?

he hates me.

originally posted by: andy06shake
a reply to: GeauxHomeYoureDrunk

Wonder what its made of?

Could it have been a portion of our own Moon that's somehow been blown off and into another orbit?

Or did Earth capture the thing?

The original Moon is made of cheese. Let's hope this one has made of wine .


But seriously never before have we had a chance to study a meteor before reentry. Now we've got one in our back yard. I wonder when the first mission will be ?

a reply to: Fallingdown

Hollow it out, and attach some form of thrust or propulsion, and we could take the thing to Mars.

Perfect spaceship really dependent on the composition of course.

SummerRain bids you all adieu...

Why he has to be banned, I'll never know.

But cest la vie

Was fun for a while.. I guess.

*tears*

a reply to: andy06shake

Landing would probably be a problem .

a reply to: Stonay

😞
Sorry to see you go. It should be a rule that they have to tell you why you're banned.