Say hello to our new moon

[ott]

Paris - Earth has acquired a "quasi-moon" - an asteroid that will encircle our planet for the next couple of years while it orbits the sun on a horseshoe-shaped path, according to a report to be published on Saturday in New Scientist.

The asteroid, 2003 YN17, "is probably a chunk of debris" from an impact between a larger space rock and the surface of the moon, the British weekly says.

2003 YN17's orbital plane is roughly the same as the earth's, but its unusual path, compounded by a corkscrew-like track, means that sometimes it is ahead of us and sometimes it is behind.

full article: http://www.news24.com/News24/Technology/News/0,,2-13-1443_1503981,00.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Hi ott

The link you provided is to a site which requires a paid subscription. Can you please repost with a free link?

Thanks! :hi: