Small asteroid discovered orbiting Earth

[AirPo]

It was found on April 27, 2016 by the Pan-STARRS 1 asteroid survey telescope in Haleakala, Hawaii.

Full story here -->

 

[ViaCrucis]

So would this technically count as our second moon? Or does its "quasi-stable orbit" make it a non-satelite? Because I very much like the idea that we have a second, albeit very very tiny, (and temporary) moon.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Eryk]

So would this technically count as our second moon? Or does its "quasi-stable orbit" make it a non-satelite? Because I very much like the idea that we have a second, albeit very very tiny, (and temporary) moon.

-CryptoLutheran

Let's name it

Lunette

Kid Moon

Chris Rock (oops, taken)

 

[AirPo]

So would this technically count as our second moon? Or does its "quasi-stable orbit" make it a non-satelite? Because I very much like the idea that we have a second, albeit very very tiny, (and temporary) moon.

-CryptoLutheran

I think the article said technically no. BUt I don't remember why.

 

[Chesterton]

So we've got another freeloading satellite using our mass? Vote Trump. He'll start charging it rent.

 

[AirPo]

So we've got another freeloading satellite using our mass? Vote Trump. He'll start charging it rent.

Trump's gonna get blood from a rock?

 

[Chesterton]

Let's name it

Lunette

Kid Moon

Chris Rock (oops, taken)

Little Rock (oops, taken by Arkansas)

 

[jayem]

I think the article said technically no. BUt I don't remember why.

I think the article said it's too far away to be considered a satellite. Somehow it attached itself to us, and goes where we go. It's an astronomical sidekick. If the Earth were Fred Flintstone, it would be our Barney. Or maybe Mini-Me to our Dr. Evil. Or if we're Han Solo, it's a tiny Chewbacca. Hey, how about we call it Chewie?

 

[jayem]

Oops. Double post deleted.

 

[brinny]

So we've got another freeloading satellite using our mass? Vote Trump. He'll start charging it rent.

LOL!

 

[brinny]

i say we give the li'l guy a chance.....

to make up for what we did to Pluto

 

[brinny]

Trump's gonna get blood from a rock?

LOL!

 

[AirPo]

i say we give the li'l guy a chance.....

to make up for what we did to Pluto

"All we are saaaaaay iiiiiiiing, is give Chewie a chance."

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

So would this technically count as our second moon? Or does its "quasi-stable orbit" make it a non-satelite? Because I very much like the idea that we have a second, albeit very very tiny, (and temporary) moon.

It's been known for some time that there is a large number (perhaps thousands) of natural satellites in temporary Earth orbit -known as ‘mini-moons’ or Temporarily Captured Objects (TCOs). See QI - How Many Moons?

 

[brinny]

"All we are saaaaaay iiiiiiiing, is give Chewie a chance."

LOL!

 

[Subduction Zone]

I think the article said technically no. BUt I don't remember why.

The video with the article makes it look like the asteroid orbits around the Sun more than it orbits around the Earth. It seems to be more of a case of our two orbits coinciding than anything else.

 

[SkyWriting]

Full story here -->

Good to have spotted it before bumping into it on the way to a mars vacation.