Posted on 10/11/2020 8:13:42 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Instead of a cosmic rock, the newly discovered object appears to be an old rocket from a failed moon-landing mission 54 years ago that's finally making its way back home, according to NASA's leading asteroid expert. Observations should help nail its identity.
2020 SO, as it is formally known, is actually the Centaur upper rocket stage that successfully propelled NASA's Surveyor 2 lander to the moon in 1966 before it was discarded. The lander ended up crashing into the moon after one of its thrusters failed to ignite on the way there. The rocket, meanwhile, swept past the moon and into orbit around the sun as intended junk, never to be seen againuntil perhaps now.
A telescope in Hawaii last month discovered the mystery object heading our way while doing a search intended to protect our planet from doomsday rocks. The object promptly was added to the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center's tally of asteroids and comets found in our solar system, just 5,000 shy of the 1 million mark.
The object is estimated to be roughly 26 feet (8 meters) based on its brightness. That's in the ballpark of the old Centaur, which would be less than 32 feet (10 meters) long including its engine nozzle and 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
“It looks like a giant....”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYSOmYyNHpU
That’s what the aliens want us to think.
It’s the “old junk rocket disguised as an asteroid trick” - Don Adams.
I think this was in a Twilight Zone episode.
It could be a Goa’uld spaceship.
Stargate command is just putting out a cover story.
“I’m baaaaaack”
I predict that someday and enterprising scraper will capture that lander and sell it at Christies for an astronomical amount of money.
Ah, yes! “You Only Live Twice”.
Over here:
https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2020%20SO;old=0;orb=1;cov=0;log=0;cad=0#orb
Above “Orbital Elements” Click the link “Show Orbit Diagram”. You can change the time step and viewing location and angle.
Have fun!
I was looking for the Like button.
That would be something else!
Interesting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.