Uranus Is Being Chased By Asteroids

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Uranus Is Being Chased By Asteroids!

By Elizabeth Howell
universetoday.com
Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Image Credit: Lawrence Sromovsky, (Univ. Wisconsin-
Madison), Keck Observatory

As Uranus speeds in its orbit in the solar system, there
are three large space rocks that are in lockstep with the
gas giant, according to new simulations. Two of them are
wobbling in unstable “horseshoe” orbits near Uranus,
while the third is in a more reliable Trojan orbit that
is always 60 degrees in front of the planet.

The largest of this small group is the asteroid Crantor,
which is 44 miles (70 kilometers) wide. Its horseshoe
orbit, and that of companion 2010 EU65, means the space
rocks seesaw between being close to Uranus and further
away. They should stay in that configuration for a few
million years.

The last of the group is 2011 QF99, in a Trojan orbit
near one of Uranus’ Lagrangian points — sort of like a
celestial parking spot where an object can hang out
without undue influence from the balanced gravitational
forces.

Continues at:

http://www.universetoday.com/103002/uranus-is-being-chased-by-asteroids/

Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti

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