• Question: i heard on the TV there were two moons orbiting the earth, but one is so small it doesn't quite count as a moon - is this true???

    Asked by lolly1998 to Jamie, Jodie, Kat, Mark, Niamh on 21 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Jamie Pringle

      Jamie Pringle answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Hi Lolly1998,

      As I mentioned on a previous reply, dont beleieve everything you read in the media, someone will have written/researched the article, but who is to know if they are the expert? And experts often disagree!

      To answer your question, that isnt true, the Earth only has one big moon. We may have very small chunks of rock or ice that have drifted past and been captured by our gravity and orbit around us, but these are very tiny compared to the Moon. The moon is almost a 1/3rd the size of the Earth and our moon is the biggest moon in the Solar System.

    • Photo: Mark Hill

      Mark Hill answered on 15 Mar 2011:

      Hello Lolly, I haven’t heard of this. It sounds somewhat strange and interesting, but I am afraid that I cannot answer your question. Perhaps you might ask someone in the Space Zone. Good luck.

    • Photo: Niamh Nic Daeid

      Niamh Nic Daeid answered on 16 Mar 2011:

      Hi Lolly

      I think Jamie hit the nail on the head here. There are lots of bits and pieces of materials orbiting the earth including an asteroid belt, but all are much too small to be categorised as a moon.

    • Photo: Jodie Dunnett

      Jodie Dunnett answered on 21 Mar 2011:

      I haven’t heard this but it doesn’t mean it isn’t true!

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