Earth gets small companion asteroid, 2016 HO3 to remain planet’s constant companion
Q. Earth has a companion asteroid which will remain parallel to it for centuries. What is it called?- Published on 20 Jun 16a. 2015 HO3
b. 2016 HO3
c. 2017 HO3
d. 2016 HO4
ANSWER: 2016 HO3
NASA scientists have discovered a tiny asteroid in an orbit round the Sun that is a constant companion of the earth and will remain so for centuries to come
- Size of the object has not been firmly established though it is bigger than 120 feet and smaller than 300 feet
- The new asteroid named 2016 HO3 appears to circle around the earth as well and is considered to be the true satellite of the planet yet it is the best and most stable quasi satellite for earth
- One other asteroid named 2003 YN 107 was following a similar orbital pattern for a decade but it has since departed
- In the yearly trek around the sun, asteroid 2016 HO3 spends half of the time closer to the Sun s against the earth and passes ahead of the planet at half the time from farther away causing the asteroid to fall behind
- Its orbit is titled a little causing it to go up and then down through the earth’s orbital plane
- This small asteroid will stick to earth for at least hundreds of years
- This asteroid was first spotted on April 27 by Pan STARRS 1 asteroid survey telescope on Haleakala, Hawaii
