Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Asteroid Has Been Following Us for Thousands of Years

So-called trojan asteroid discovered in Earth's orbit

By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2011 9:22 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – It turns out that Earth has another neighbor besides the moon: a so-called Trojan asteroid that has been traveling with us around the sun for thousands of years, reports the Los Angeles Times. Plenty of other planets have their own asteroids—there are at least 4,000 in Jupiter's orbit alone—but scientists were never able to find any around the Earth, in part because the sweet spot where asteroids could exist was hidden by the brightness of the sun.

But an astronomer from Alberta thought to use NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, a space-based telescope that can point its lens at a 90 degree angle to the sun—and it did indeed find such an asteroid. Should scientists be able to find others, NASA may have itself a candidate for a visit by astronauts, a feat it's looking to attain in as little as 15 years. A scientist who wasn't part of tracking down this Trojan explains that the newly discovered asteroid isn't suitable for a visit because it's too tilted in relation to the solar system.

This artist's concept provided by NASA illustrates the first known Earth Trojan asteroid, discovered by NEOWISE, the asteroid-hunting portion of NASA's WISE mission.
This artist's concept provided by NASA illustrates the first known Earth Trojan asteroid, discovered by NEOWISE, the asteroid-hunting portion of NASA's WISE mission.   (AP Photo/NASA - Paul Wiegert)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
3%
78%
1%
13%
4%
1%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
SPHeroid
Jul 28, 2011 6:12 PM CDT
Aren't there applicable laws against stalking?....
flin1
Jul 28, 2011 11:13 AM CDT
I suggest we just leave it alone.  Here's an asteroid in our orbit that has been there for thousands of years.  That sounds kind of stable.  I wonder what could happen if we go jump up and down on it and change it's orbit ever so slightly.  Remember when Homer Simpson went back in time and swatted that pre-historic fly?    
finkster
Jul 28, 2011 10:48 AM CDT
What kind of asteroid would be named Trojan unless it is a....OMG....hurry Earth move it....

 
NASA • asteroid • WISE satellite telescope

More Newser Stories

NASA Launches Telescope to Detect Space Threats

NASA to Harpoon Comets

Giant Asteroid Headed Toward Fly-by of Earth

NASA: We've IDed Most Killer Asteroids Out There

Mysterious Light Dazzles Southwest
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne