[katie]

katie asked the Naked Scientists:
   
A while ago I saw on QI that the earth has more than one moon -
if this is the case, why does everywhere else seem to say that the earth has only one moon- and why can't we see the other moons as easily?

cheers again for your brilliant show

k

What do you think?

[Chemistry4me]

Earth has a second moon, of sorts, and could have many others, according to three astronomers who did calculations to describe orbital motions at gravitational balance points in space that temporarily pull asteroids into bizarre orbits near our planet.

The 3-mile-wide (5-km) satellite, which takes 770 years to complete a horseshoe-shaped orbit around Earth, is called Cruithne and will remain in a suspended state around Earth for at least 5,000 years.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/solarsystem/second_moon_991029.html

[demadone]

Mostly it depends on the shape. If these moons were round and beautiful, everyone would accept them.

[yor_on]

As we relatively seen are the center of all expansion, they all are 'moons'.
Some rather big though, and not all have been informed of their new status (yet).

But I expect that to be rectified:)

[Chemistry4me]

Moon anybody?

[Lynda]

Have any astronomers managed to take a photo of this second "moon"?    I am intrigued!

[yor_on]

This is a cool wiki...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3753_Cruithne
And the photo is not that exiting
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Cruithne.jpg

[DoctorBeaver]

Apparently 5 have been discovered