[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I don't understand the plot in inertial coordinates, or why it moves in that more or less triangular orbit. I assume the LD is [mean] lunar distance, about 248,000 miles and that the X-Y inertial plane is the plane containing the earth's equator, with positive X in the direction of the Vernal Equinox point. (The intersection of the ecliptic plane and equatorial plane, with positive X pointing in the direction of the sun in March.) They also do not give any time ticks, which is somewhat fustrating.

I downloaded the linked article in PDF. Maybe when I get done chewing on that I'll report back.

[JohnG45]

... this was not an object of ours. Instead, 2006 RH120, as it became known, turned out to be a tiny asteroid just a few metres across--a natural satellite like the Moon. It was captured by Earth's gravity in September 2006 and orbited us until June 2007 when it wandered off into the Solar System in search of a more interesting neighbour.

Captured and released? How exactly did it get "released" to wander off in search of a more interesting neighbor?

[Tallguy]

bump for later.

[JohnG45]

I think I see it now. It only completed two orbits before moving on - yes?

[Larry Lucido]

Did it “wander” off or was it slingshotted? Sounds like it was out for a Sunday stroll and then just moseyed off.

[Larry Lucido]

orbited us until June 2007 when it wandered off

FR's resident Rapturists are slapping their foreheads asking "How could we have missed THAT sign of the imminent End-Of-The-World?"

[US Navy Vet]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2823802/posts

[blueunicorn6]

Damn.....even the asteroids want our welfare money. Go over to Mars! They have free healthcare!

[TheOldLady]

"Earth Must Have Another Moon, Say Astronomers"

Must we?