Natural Satellites

Can Natural Satellites have their own orbiting bodies? (Besides Man-made sattellites.

Let's say the moon having a smaller object orbiting it.

[edit on 7-7-2004 by VirusClock]

Even small objets can have moons.

Earth's moon could well have smaller "moon" orbiting it.
(it doesn't matter for gravity is orbiting object small asteroid/meteoroid or probe)

Like asteroid Ida which has small moon called Dactyl.


www.spacedaily.com...
www.spacedaily.com...

But there aren't any moons in the solar system with their own natural satellite right?

And If something like that happens, im guessing that the planet's gravity force eventually takes control of the smaller object.

VirusClock,

You are correct, no moons are known to have moons of their own.
At least as far as we know. It's not really impossible, but gravitational interactions prevent it from happening long term.
I'm willing to bet, that it happens from time-to time, and we just miss it,
the little moon is ejected from orbit, and is on it's own again..

On a technicality, you could the mention Pluto/Charon combo.
They kinda orbit each other, Charon being so big, relative to Pluto.

As Far as the Asteroid IDA is concerned, I remember that someone in NASA
,I think, wanted to name it's tiny little moon, BESIDA...LOL