Comments on: Binary Asteroid Glides Past Earth http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/14/binary-asteroid-glides-past-earth/ Space and astronomy news Sun, 8 Nov 2009 10:14:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: alphonso richardson http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/14/binary-asteroid-glides-past-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-26055 alphonso richardson Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:40:13 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15532#comment-26055 I have to agree. arecibo may be long in the tooth for some, but it's STILL producing the goods. I'm wondering how these binary asteriods stay together? I have to agree. arecibo may be long in the tooth for some, but it's STILL producing the goods.
I'm wondering how these binary asteriods stay together?

]]> By: Van http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/14/binary-asteroid-glides-past-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-26043 Van Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:43:33 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15532#comment-26043 Once again, Arecibo proves what a treasure it is! Now, no more talk of shutting it down and dismantling it. Might as well talk about tearing down the Statue of Liberty! Once again, Arecibo proves what a treasure it is! Now, no more talk of shutting it down and dismantling it. Might as well talk about tearing down the Statue of Liberty!

]]> By: Dan http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/14/binary-asteroid-glides-past-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-25982 Dan Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:31:10 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15532#comment-25982 For visual observers 2008 BT18 was tough as <a href="http://cosmos4u.blogspot.com/2008/07/binary-asteroid-main-body-600-meters-to.html" rel="nofollow">I calculated</a> (with a JPL online ephemeris generator): Before closest approach - which happened only a few hours ago, by the way - it was very close to the Sun at an extreme phase angle, now it's better illuminated but rushing south. The apparent brightness, though, should stay rather constant at 13 or so. For visual observers 2008 BT18 was tough as I calculated (with a JPL online ephemeris generator): Before closest approach – which happened only a few hours ago, by the way – it was very close to the Sun at an extreme phase angle, now it's better illuminated but rushing south. The apparent brightness, though, should stay rather constant at 13 or so.

]]> By: Sci-Fi-SI http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/14/binary-asteroid-glides-past-earth/comment-page-1/#comment-25952 Sci-Fi-SI Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:37:02 +0000 http://www.universetoday.com/?p=15532#comment-25952 Fascinating! I can't help but wonder how a body only 600m across could have a gravitational field strong enough to hold another body 200m across in orbit... I would love to know more about how the mass of this object is calculated or how the physics of this could possibly work? I know the equations, but.... Is it more likely they are just two rocks travelling side by side with an almost nil gravitational influence on each other as opposed to an 'orbit'? Thanks for the article Fascinating! I can't help but wonder how a body only 600m across could have a gravitational field strong enough to hold another body 200m across in orbit…

I would love to know more about how the mass of this object is calculated or how the physics of this could possibly work? I know the equations, but….

Is it more likely they are just two rocks travelling side by side with an almost nil gravitational influence on each other as opposed to an 'orbit'?

Thanks for the article

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