Scientists Spot Rare Minimoon Fireball Over Australia

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Scientists Spot Rare Minimoon Fireball Over Australia

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Post by smp »


From Space.com:
"A fiery meteor explosion over the Australian desert may have been an ultra-rare minimoon, researchers think. "

https://www.space.com/minimoon-fireball ... esert.html

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Re: Scientists Spot Rare Minimoon Fireball Over Australia

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Post by goldstar »


Interesting but I have reservations about the term "minimoon".
Are we now to argue what is the definition of a moon (mini or otherwise), asteroid, space rock, celestial lump or some such?
Another Pluto style controversy?
Also be careful that at first reading of the report that the image looks very exciting, but it's from 2012 over SF.
Can we call this click bait?
I am no expert in celestial mechanics but the lack of detail about 2006 RH120 orbiting the Earth for 11 months leaves me asking:
Was one orbit 11 months long or multiple orbits DURING 11 months?
Also we are not told how the object managed to escape capture after all that time.
I suppose a rare planetary and lunar alignment might kick it out of orbit after 11 months but wouldn't this also happen to satellites?
I always understood that once an object has achieved orbit that it needs a little more than gravitational coincidences to move it out.
I suppose I could research it further and not be lazy but these days on the net it's a minefield of re-directs, sponsored sites and fringe or whacko interests that make research frustrating.
I am hoping that our resident guru of all things physics, nFA, will leap in here and clarify it for us.

I succumbed and checked it out in Wikipedia and it does seem that objects can leave temporary capture orbit (TCO) and this is what 2006 RH120 has done.
It appears that it is 2-3 meters in diameter so hardly warranting the description of minimoon (perhaps a mini-me moon?).
Whatever, I anticipate that our wonderful cousins down under will be searching the outback meteorite falls.
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Re: Scientists Spot Rare Minimoon Fireball Over Australia

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Post by smp »


Thanks, goldstar, for all the questions, info, and critique!
Indeed, I had NOT noticed that the photo was from a different event. I'm well familiar with "the media" hyping everything nowadays, but I had expected better from Space.com. Yes, a bit of click-bait, I guess. I'll have to be more careful in the future, as I look for scoops to post here. :lol:

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Re: Scientists Spot Rare Minimoon Fireball Over Australia

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Post by goldstar »


Thank you smp! As you point out, we should expect better from supposedly reputable sites. Not your fault and YOU don't have to be careful. There is no reason any of us should need to be careful and fact check everything we see on the net otherwise our lives and time will be completely consumed with doubt and skepticism (which is where I feel my life is going at the moment!).
Keep posting the scoops! A good thing.
Information, as poor as it can be these days is better than no info at all---as long as we can see through the BS and hype. :Think:
Scopes: 200mm f6 DOB:CR 6 150 mm f 7.5 refractor, SW ED 80 mm f 7.5. 2 X 80 mm f7.5 guides.
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