Trojan Asteroids Found In Neptunian Orbit

Agent Provocateur writes to mention a release at Science Daily about three rogue asteroids discovered by the Carnegie Institute. The objects are in about the same orbit as Neptune, lending evidence that the planet has a cloud of these 'Trojan' celestial bodies. From the article: "Trojan asteroids cluster around one of two points that lead or trail the planet by about 60 degrees in its orbit, known as Lagrangian points. In these areas, the gravitational pull of the planet and the Sun combine to lock the asteroids into stable orbits synchronized with the planet. German Astronomer Max Wolf identified the first Jupiter Trojan in 1906, and since then, more than 1800 such asteroids have been identified marching along that planet's orbit. "

Comments

Obviously

[Rob T Firefly]

Neptune uses Trojans to guard against Spatially Transmitted Debris.

Re:Obviously

[Junior J. Junior III]

Considering Neptune's proximity to Uranus, that's a good thing I'd say.

Re:Obviously

[aztektum]

Man I can't wait until 2261 when they change Uranus's name in order to put an end to stupid joke's like that.

Damn you, malware writers

[Opportunist]

At least leave the other Planets alone, isn't this planet big enough for you?

nyuk-nyuk

[MrSquirrel]

Trojan asteroids? I hope the computers on the International Space Station have up-to-date virus definitions!

Re:Not Asteroids - More Likely To Resemble Comet

[Belgarion89]

So, basically what you're saying is, "that's no asteroid, it's a comet?"

Gotta love Google AdWords!

[RobertB-DC]

Google supplied these ads for the article:

Jupiter's Finest Florist
Guaranteed Same Day Local Delivery 100's of items to choose - Save $10
www.11Flowers.com/Jupiter

Local Jupiter Florist
Same Day Jupiter Delivery Guarantee Family Owned For Over 90 Years!
www.FlowerShopping.com/Jupiter

I'm especially interested in Same Day Jupiter Delivery. That would be a great scientific *and* floral achievement. In particular, the "Local Jupiter Florist" that's been "Family Owned for over 90 Years" -- is the Jupiter location new, or have they been there since around 1915 (thereby missing that terrible flu outbreak)? I can't imagine there would have been much business for flowers on (or near) Jupiter in the early 1900's, but then, making a living would come in a distant second behind "staying alive" in that location.

Re:Gotta love Google AdWords!

[RobertB-DC]

The schools on Jupiter (and in surrounding areas) are stellar... or so I hear.

Much better than on Mars. Mars ain't no kind of place to raise your kids. In fact, it's cold as hell. And there's no one there to raise them if you did. At least, that's what a passing rocket man told me. Of course, he also mentioned all this science he didn't understand, too.

Re:This thread should be linked on the front page.

[Kelson]

all we need now is 1.) In Soviet Russia OMG PONIES!! wear the trojans 2.???? 3. profit ^WUranus...did I miss any

You must be new here -- you forgot the Beowulf cluster of Natalie Portman's hot grits on a first post.