More on the “second moon” theory

Earth with two moons.

Other Moons of Earth – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

From the actual wiki entry:

Claims have existed for many centuries that the Earth might possess other natural satellites besides the Moon. Several candidates have been proposed, but all such claims have proven false. The Moon is Earth’s only known natural satellite.

While several genuine scientific searches for “second moons” were undertaken in the 19th and 20th centuries, the field has also been the subject of several non-scientific proposals and possible hoaxes. These possible hoaxes, which were about objects of specific size and orbits, were poorly founded and all have been disproven.^[1]

Although the Moon is Earth’s only known natural satellite, there are a number of near-Earth objects with orbits that are in resonance with Earth. These can be mistaken for natural satellites and are sometimes glibly referred to as “second moons”.^[2] Quasi-satellites, such as 3753 Cruithne, orbit Earth in 1:1 resonance but also orbit the Sun. Earth trojans, such as 2010 TK₇, follow the same orbital path as Earth, either trailing or following, in the vicinity of the Earth–Sun Lagrangian points. Small objects in orbit around the Sun can also temporarily fall into orbit about the Earth, becoming “temporary satellites”.

There have been large generic searches for small moons, actual proposals or claimed sightings of specific objects in orbit, and finally, analysis and searches for those proposed objects. All three of these have failed to confirm a permanent natural satellite.

Related articles

• Earth Has A Second Moon, Astronomers Say (gizmodo.com.au)
• Blog – Earth Must Have Another Moon, Say Astronomers (technologyreview.com)
• Earth Usually Has Second Tiny, Temporary ‘Moon’ (huffingtonpost.com)
• Earth Has a Second Moon? (foxnews.com)
• Earth Must Have Another Moon, Say Astronomers (disclose.tv)

 

A second moon?

science tumbled.

On February 9, 1913, a unique procession of meteors was observed from Canada, parts of the US, and in one case, off the coast of Brazil. Several streams of brilliant meteors were seen moving relatively slowly across the sky; the event lasted too long for a regular meteor sighting, but too short for a regular meteor shower, and moreover, the meteors did not, like showers, radiate from a single point in the sky. Most of North America was cloudy that day, so out of the millions of potential observers, only hundred-odd reports were made, mostly from remote locations, but there is no doubt that it happened. The meteors were accompanied by a trembling sound.

Comparing eyewitness reports and making calculations of possible trajectories, scientists have proposed a remarkable possibility: that this event, called by some the Cyrillid meteor shower, was a short-lived natural satellite of the Earth.

The picture is a painting by Gustav Hahn, depicting the procession as seen from Toronto. (via Picture This Date)

Learning this kind of stuff is very cool.

 

Rocket Fox: Part Thirteen

Colonel Gregory Chatham stood by the window in his office that looked out into the Main Authority shuttle bay. It was large enough for small troop deployment ships, small cargo ships and standard transport craft, it should be able to handle the Nighthawk without any problems. Idly, he rubbed his thigh, just above the prosthetic leg. It was curious how he sometimes imaged he could still feel his toes, even after all these years since he lost his leg. Behind him, Captain Trella Marr wheeled up close and looked out the window along with Chatham.

“That’s one thing I’ve often thought was a saving grace of this chair,” Trella said with a small chuckle. “At least I can fit into Vulpine parameters now.” Gregory smirked and looked to his assistant for a moment. “The Nighthawk should be arriving in the next three minutes. We’ll have a good look at her from up here.”

“The new recruits are a mixed review with the current agents,” Gregory informed her. “Some are adamantly against three bounty hunters working together. Others showed some mild interest. Lenk was the only one who seemed the most impressed. But then he wasn’t the typical kind of bounty hunter to begin with.”

“What about Coratta? Or Range Runner” Trella asked, naming one of five Critainians who worked with the Main Authority, and one of ten Lupine as well.

“Coratta commented in his usual way,” Chatham said with a huff. “He made a joke out of it.” He sighed and shook his head. “You know, I liked him better when he was female.” Trella only nodded as she leaned forward in her chair and looked intently out the window and let Chatham continue. “Range Runner didn’t even bat an eye when I told him. He was his usual self whenever news is announced. Just asked what his next assignment was.” He turned to his desk and poured both himself and Trella a cup of tea, handing Trella hers before he took a sip of his own and looked out the window once again. “His demeanour might have been thanks to his recent visit with Wild Howl in section 14 of the prisoner base.”

“Ranger doesn’t let go easily, does he?” Trella replied. Both she and Chatham were very familiar with the situation surrounding Range Runner and Wild Howl’s relationship. Wild Howl was a Hyna tribe Jackai that slaughtered Range Runner’s family, his entire tribal pack, near the neutral territories on Lupinia. Range Runner made it a habit to visit Wild Howl in prison since his capture.

“He’s just making sure Wild Howl is still alive and well in his cell,” Gregory said with a shrug. “I’m still surprised he didn’t ask for the death penalty. He had every right by Lupine Law. But Ranger denied it. It just hope it’s not eating away at him.” His ear perked up as he looked out the window. The running lights from a ship appeared at the shuttle bay doors. “There she is,” he said as he keyed a communicator. “This is Chatham to air traffic control. Bring the Nighthawk in safely.” There was a quickly reply of confirmation, and then silence, leaving Gregory and Trella the opportunity to watch as the aircraft made her way into the shuttle bay.

The Nighthawk made her approach slowly, the sleek ship making her way into the shuttle bay like a giant, graceful bird. Gregory looked out the window to the traffic control section, taking note of the personnel that suddenly stopped to watch with a great deal of interest. He could see why, the Nighthawk was an impressive ship.

“You can see where she separates,” Trella said as she pointed out several spots on the hull that looked like connecting rods. “But if you didn’t know what she was, you’d never know what she was capable of.”

“She is impressive, that’s for sure,” Gregory said as he looked to Trella. “Still wanna get behind the stick and have the new recruits give you a flying lesson?” He chuckled and patted Trella’s shoulder, who smiled in return.

“Maybe after the three get settled in,” Trella replied. They watched again as the Nighthawk came in for a smooth landing, her landing struts setting down gently for a craft her size.

“Colonel Chatham,” came a voice over the comm from traffic control. “The Nighthawk has landed.”

“I see that, traffic control,” Gregory said with a nod, still looking at the Nighthawk with a small amount of awe and wonder. “I’m sending Agent Farspear to meet them before they report to the office.” He looked to Trella with a nod. “Better get a pot of tea on, best to make them feel a little at home.”

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