First 'Trojan' Asteroid Companion of Uranus Found

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Space.com - 8/29/13, Charles Q. Choi

Trojan Asteroid 2011 QF99

This image is one of three discovery images of 2011 QF99 taken from Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Oct. 24, 2011 (2011 QF99 is inside the green circle). 2011 QF99 is the first Trojan asteroid discovered around Uranus. Image released Aug. 29, 2013.

 

Astronomers have discovered an unexpected, novel kind of triangle in the sky — one whose points are the sun, Uranus and the first "Trojan asteroid" ever seen near the tilted planet.

The discovery of the Trojan asteroid for Uranus suggests Uranus and Neptune could have far more such asteroid companions than previously thought, scientists say.

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