Quasi satellite discovered near Earth
OCT 01, 2014
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028301
New Scientist : On 29 July astronomers discovered a small asteroid that appears to be orbiting Earth but is really orbiting the Sun. Called 2014 OL339, it is the fourth such near-Earth quasi satellite discovered so far. For some 775 years, the asteroid has been circling the Sun in resonance with Earth, whose gravity shapes its eccentric orbit. But astronomers say that will probably only last another 165 years or so. Although the Moon is the only true Earth satellite, many different types of space rocks are drawn into temporary orbit by Earth’s gravitational pull and hang out for various periods of time, ranging from months to years.
© 2014 American Institute of Physics
