And you thought the Moon is our only satellite…

[jayem]

Recent studies with the Large Binocular and Lowell Discovery Telescopes at the Univ. of Arizona on Kamo’oalewa have been reported. She is the the smallest of the 5 known quasi-satellites that orbit Earth along with Moon—only about 41m long. About the size of a ferris wheel. Spectrum analysis indicates Kamo’s composed of similar silicates as the Moon. So she’s likely a piece of the Moon that was ejected by a collision. Kinda cool. Our moon is not our only satellite.

Lunar-like silicate material forms the Earth quasi-satellite (469219) 2016 HO3 Kamoʻoalewa | Communications Earth & Environment

 

[durangodawood]

How will this change astrology?

 

[Hans Blaster]

How will this change astrology?

As much as any other facts affect it. (None at all.)

 

[durangodawood]

As much as any other facts affect it. (None at all.)

Astrology is very responsive to various facts about the solar system.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Astrology is very responsive to various facts about the solar system.

All it requires is a colorful imagination and a glib tongue.

 

[Occams Barber]

Recent studies with the Large Binocular and Lowell Discovery Telescopes at the Univ. of Arizona on Kamo’oalewa have been reported. She is the the smallest of the 5 known quasi-satellites that orbit Earth along with Moon—only about 41m long. About the size of a ferris wheel. Spectrum analysis indicates Kamo’s composed of similar silicates as the Moon. So she’s likely a piece of the Moon that was ejected by a collision. Kinda cool. Our moon is not our only satellite.

Lunar-like silicate material forms the Earth quasi-satellite (469219) 2016 HO3 Kamoʻoalewa | Communications Earth & Environment

I admit to being confused about the orbital characteristics of this lump of rock. Although it orbits the Sun it also makes 'retrograde loops around Earth with a 1 year period'.

I'm having real trouble visualising its orbit (and what is 'Earth's Hill sphere'?)

From the linked paper:

As it orbits the Sun with a ~1 year orbital period, it takes a quasi-satellite path relative to Earth, that is, it makes retrograde loops around Earth with a ~1 year period but well beyond Earth’s Hill sphere6.
​

OB

 

[keith99]

I admit to being confused about the orbital characteristics of this lump of rock. Although it orbits the Sun it also makes 'retrograde loops around Earth with a 1 year period'.

I'm having real trouble visualising its orbit (and what is 'Earth's Hill sphere'?)

From the linked paper:

As it orbits the Sun with a ~1 year orbital period, it takes a quasi-satellite path relative to Earth, that is, it makes retrograde loops around Earth with a ~1 year period but well beyond Earth’s Hill sphere6.
​

OB

Google and Wiki are your friends!

Hill sphere - Wikipedia

And something spends a lot of time well beyond the Hill Sphere of another object can hardly be said to be orbiting it. Definately not a stable orbit, which is likely why it was net described in detial.

 

[Blade]

Very interesting.. yet that being said I can also say I have never wondered thought "the Moon is our only satellite"

 

[Occams Barber]

Google and Wiki are your friends!

Hill sphere - Wikipedia

And something spends a lot of time well beyond the Hill Sphere of another object can hardly be said to be orbiting it. Definately not a stable orbit, which is likely why it was net described in detial.

Thanks Keith. I usually look things up for myself but it's early in the morning here. I just got up and I'm feeling lazy.

OB

 

[jayem]

I’d like to know how a space rock got a Hawaiian name.

 

[Occams Barber]

I’d like to know how a space rock got a Hawaiian name.

From 469219 Kamoʻoalewa - Wikipedia

Discovery and naming[edit]
Kamoʻoalewa was first spotted on 27 April 2016, by the Pan-STARRS 1 asteroid survey telescope on Haleakalā, Hawaii, operated by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy and funded by NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office.[1][4] The name Kamoʻoalewa is derived from the Hawaiian words ka 'the', moʻo 'fragment', referring to it being a piece broken off a larger object, a 'of', and lewa 'to oscillate', referring to its motion in the sky as viewed from Earth.[7][8] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 April 2019 (M.P.C. 112435).[9]

OB

 

[Hans Blaster]

I’d like to know how a space rock got a Hawaiian name.

Obviously the Lunar natives should be naming escaped bits of the Moon.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Obviously the Lunar natives should be naming escaped bits of the Moon.

You mean the Lunatics?