First Quadruple Asteroid System Detected

A trio of researchers from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand, Université de Lyon, and Sorbonne Université, respectively, has made the first sighting of a quadruple asteroid system—an asteroid with three moons orbiting around it. 

     

In their paper published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, Anthony Berdeu, Maud Langlois, and Frédéric Vachier describe how they spotted a third moon around asteroid Elektra and some of its characteristics.

The asteroid Elektra was first seen back in 1873, by astronomer Christian Peters. Since that time, the outer main-belt asteroid has been classified as a G-type—it measures approximately 260 kilometers across and is believed to have a Ceres-like composition. Back in 2003, researchers found that it had a companion moon and then in 2014, a second moon was found. 

   

In this new effort, a third moon has been discovered, earning the system a quadruple designation—the first ever observed.
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🔬SOURCE @TechMediaAfrica🔭