Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: neilep on 05/01/2009 19:07:40

Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: neilep on 05/01/2009 19:07:40: Dearest Ewe Lot,

As a sheepy , I of course luff the moon. Moons are my all time favourite natural satellites that orbit a planet. Out of all of those, moons are my bestest favourite ever !

Look..... here's one...it belongs to some planet called Earth (Sounds like a big ball of dirt , still, methinks me'd like to visit one day !!)

[ Invalid Attachment ]

nice eh ?

Being delivered next Tuesday.

Do some moons have their own moons ?

If our moon had it's own moon , What would that moon be to us ?..would it mean that we have two moons ?..or still just the one ?

Oh how I wish I knew by noon
The answer to my question Moon
I really hope it will be soon
To make it worth this ditty tune.

........quality !

Hugs et les shmishes

mwah mwah mwah mwah

neil
Moonlight becomes ewe, It goes with your hair !
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: RD on 05/01/2009 19:13:30: There is a TNS thread about moons having moons having moons ... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=17108.0
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: Mr. Scientist on 05/01/2009 19:46:22: There is a moon that orbits the outer region of our solar system of eight planets. Here is a puzzle, can you name what moon this is?
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: neilep on 05/01/2009 19:50:43: Quote from: RD on 05/01/2009 19:13:30
There is a TNS thread about moons having moons having moons ... http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=17108.0

ooops !!..Thanks for that RD..I appreciate the link !
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: neilep on 05/01/2009 19:51:42: Quote from: Mr. Scientist on 05/01/2009 19:46:22
There is a moon that orbits the outer region of our solar system of eight planets. Here is a puzzle, can you name what moon this is?

Thanks Mr Scientist

Is it Pluto ?...is Pluto the designated Solar Systems Moon ?
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: RD on 05/01/2009 19:58:34: Quote from: Mr. Scientist on 05/01/2009 19:46:22
There is a moon that orbits the outer region of our solar system of eight planets. Here is a puzzle, can you name what moon this is?

The moons of the ex-9th planet, (now "dwarf planet"), Pluto, e.g. Charon ?
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: Mr. Scientist on 05/01/2009 20:02:23: Indeed, it is Pluto.

Pluto is far to small to be considered a planet, even though nearly every astrological book in every boys and girls bedroom will say otherwise, but if at best, pluto is considered either a moon, or an asteroid, but far to small to be a planet by true deifinition.

Now, if we had an asteroid that circuled the moon, that would be a satellite itself, and by definition, the moon, (or a moon), is nothing but a satellite.
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: RD on 05/01/2009 20:13:32: Quote
The IAU currently (2006) recognizes five dwarf planets—Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
However, only two of these bodies, Ceres and Pluto, have been observed in enough detail to demonstrate that they fit the definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: Mr. Scientist on 05/01/2009 20:19:08: This is debatable.
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: syhprum on 05/01/2009 20:40:35: I believe that Charon has its own orbiting satellite that could be classed as a moon of a moon.
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: yor_on on 06/01/2009 10:54:59: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Do they?

Smell???
Title: Do Moons.....also have Moons ?
Post by: daveshorts on 06/01/2009 11:16:13: I think that there is no particular reason that a moon shouldn't have a moon, however it probably wouldn't be a very stable situation, as the tidal forces from the nearby planet would tend to destabilise the orbit of the moon's moon. Essentially becasue you have 3 bodies, energy can be transferred between the two moons so their orbits can change with time.

Planets are essentially moons of the sun and they have moons, so it is possible but they are a long long way from the sun so their orbits are fairly stable.