Brains On! Science podcast for kids How do we name things in space? The quest to name a quasi-moon!
Aug 20, 2024
Latif Nasser, a co-host of Radiolab, takes us on a whimsical journey into the peculiar world of naming celestial bodies. Discover the quirky story behind a mysterious quasi-moon near Venus called Zoozve, and how it sparked Latif’s quest for answers. He discusses the significance of naming in astronomy, shares amusing anecdotes, and invites young listeners to participate in a fun naming contest for a quasi-moon. Plus, enjoy playful sound guessing games that add an exciting twist to your exploration of space!
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The Zoozve Mystery
- Latif Nasser discovered an unknown moon named "Zoozve" next to Venus on his son's solar system poster.
- This prompted an investigation, revealing it was a quasi-moon, 2002 VE, mistakenly labeled due to a typo.
Quasi-moon Definition
- Quasi-moons orbit the sun like planets but simultaneously orbit a planet.
- This three-way dance makes their movements hard to predict.
Quasi-moon Orbits
- Quasi-moons exhibit diverse orbital patterns beyond simple circles.
- Some loop, others move in horseshoe shapes, some appear stationary, while others wiggle like tadpoles.