North of London | Interesting that an old rocket might be what is returning to become a mini-moon for a year
https://earthsky.org/space/2020-so-mini-moon-asteroid-or-space-junk?utm_source=EarthSky+News&utm_campaign=94010abe5b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_02_02_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c643945d79-94010abe5b-394005577
An approaching space object – labeled 2020 SO – is about to briefly become a new “mini-moon” for Earth, captured by our planet’s more powerful gravity. Orbit models show that both the low speed and trajectory of the approaching object indicate Earth will capture it, temporarily, from October 2020 perhaps until around May 2021. It won’t be the first time Earth has captured a mini-moon, but this object is unusual and perhaps no ordinary asteroid. It might be a lost rocket, originally launched from Earth more than 50 years ago. |