SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Space rock shares orbit with planet Uranus

Scientists have spotted a space rock, about 61km wide, that tags along with the planet Uranus.

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have travelling companions - space rocks that share the planets' orbits as they circle the sun.

Now scientists have discovered one that tags along with Uranus.

About 61km wide, the icy rock runs ahead of the planet.

The object was first spotted in 2011 by a group of Canadian and French scientists led by the University of British Columbia.

The team reported the discovery in Friday's issue of Science.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Some 6000 space rocks are known to follow Jupiter, the most of any planet. Earth shares its orbit with a tiny asteroid.

Scientists say the latest find's makeup is similar to a comet.

A million years from now, the rock will escape back into the outer solar system.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world