2007-07-20 17:36:26 · 9 answers · asked by Marc M 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A moon actually couldn't have a moon of it's own, as the gravity of it's primary would interfere with the orbit of the secondary moon.
The perturbations would either cause it to crash into the primary or the moon it orbited, be flung off into space, or could cause the secondary moon to form it's own orbit about the primary.
2007-07-20 17:59:57 · answer #1 · answered by Foxfire 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
By technical definition, no. A moon is a satellite of a planet. A planet, by definition [at least part of it nowadays after the Pluto incident] orbits a star. Now, with the 60+ moons of Jupiter some may go in and out of each other's orbits around the planet, but they're all still moons of Jupiter. And, also technically, there is only one Moon in our solar system, the one that orbits the Earth. All others are lower case "m".
2007-07-21 00:45:07 · answer #2 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not that we can see. Besides, a moon is by definition something that orbits a planet. We would have to come up with another definition for a satellite of a moon.
The closest would be Charon, Pluto's moon. Some scientists are now using a newer, more strict definition of what a planet is, and Pluto would not qualify under the new definition. They are saying that a planet has to be made up of leftover material from the star's previous nova; based on Pluto's chemical makeup and unusual orbit, it is believed to more likely be a piece of random space debris that got caught in our sun's gravity than material left over from our sun's last nova (about 4 billion years ago)
There are also large asteroids in the Mars / Jupiter asteroid belt that have smaller asteroids in orbits around them, if that is close to the answer you are looking for.
And pay no attention to 238's statement about capital "Moon" versus lowercase "moon"... you used lowercase in your question.
2007-07-21 05:06:44 · answer #3 · answered by SDW 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ignore NRAO_kid, he has been an ******** on several previous questions I have read. He is an ignrant and insulting know-nothing.
I suppose a spaceship orbiting the moon could be considered a moon. A moon is a satellite body. If a lump of rock was to enter the orbit of (say) our moon, with exactly th same speed and orbit, it could become a satellite - or moon - of our moon. However be aware I don't have a shred of evidence as an example.
2007-07-21 04:43:16 · answer #4 · answered by Brett2010 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think we've detected anything orbiting any moons of any planets out there. Most of them are asteroid-sized. Only a few are large, spherical worlds. None of those to my knowledge has anything orbiting it, including man-made objects.
Probably the gravity of the planet and moon in question would perturb any orbits around the moon too much to be stable. I'd imagine anything orbiting a moon would have to be small and relatively close to the moon it orbits, or else the planet would likely rip it off its course after a while.
2007-07-21 00:50:12 · answer #5 · answered by ZeroByte 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There isnt really a record of it but im pretty sure small asteroids can orbit moons
2007-07-21 01:40:30 · answer #6 · answered by Nick M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You could try mooning our moon.
2007-07-21 00:40:32 · answer #7 · answered by Renaissance Man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi. Well, there are asteroids that have moons, so in my opinion, yes it is possible.
2007-07-21 00:40:36 · answer #8 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO, NO, NO.
Moons don't have moons. Asteroids don't have moons. Nowhere. No how.
By definition, clod. Look it up.
Jesus Christ, you amaze me. You just amaze me.
You get stoned and come up with this question, do you?
Do any research before hand, or just barf it out at will?
2007-07-21 01:45:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋