Dig it! A new object, codenamed J002E3, has been found to have a lazy, 50-day orbit around Earth. What is it? Could be a discarded piece of space junk; could be a big-ass asteroid trapped by our gravitational field. No-one knows.
But even weirder:
If it is determined that J002E3 is natural it will become Earth's third natural satellite.
Earth's second one is called Cruithne. It was discovered in 1986 and it takes a convoluted horseshoe path around our planet as it is tossed about by the Earth's and the Moon's gravity.
"Third natural satellite?" We already have a second moon?
What the hell? Why haven't I been TOLD about this stuff???
Posted by Clive Thompson at September 16, 2002 11:16 PM
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Comments
It was supposed to be a surprise. And now you've ruined it!
It was supposed to be a surprise. And now you've ruined it!
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