Originally posted by zeeblebot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_AA29
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A further uncertainty arises from radar echo measurements at the Arecibo Radio Telescope, which could only pick up an unexpectedly weak radar echo, implying that 2002 AA29 is either smaller than estimated or reflects radio waves only weakly. In the former case it would have to have an unusually high albedo.[3] This would be evidence in support of the speculation that it, or at least the material of which it is composed, is different from most other asteroids so far discovered on near-earth orbits, or represents a fragment thrown off by the collision of a medium-sized asteroid with the Earth or the Moon.[1]
Because its orbit is very similar to the Earth’s, the asteroid is relatively easily reachable by space probes. 2002 AA29 would therefore be a suitable object of study for more precise research into the structure and formation of asteroids and the evolution of their orbits around the sun. Meanwhile further co-orbital companions of the Earth of this type on horseshoe orbits or on orbits as quasi-satellites have already been found, such as the quasi-satellite 2003 YN107. Furthermore it is assumed that there are small Trojan companions of the Earth with diameters in the region of 100 metres located at the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points of the Earth-Sun system.
Maybe a probe will be sent to this object in a few decades.
Originally posted by sonhouse ...Furthermore it is assumed that there are small Trojan companions of the Earth with diameters in the region of 100 metres located at the L4 and L5 Lagrangian points of the Earth-Sun system.
Maybe a probe will be sent to this object in a few decades.
alien spacecraft candidates
22 Mar '10 05:03
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