this post was submitted on 27 Jan 2024
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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 12 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

orbits it and the sun at the same time

~~Specifically, it's in one of the stable Lagrange points. (L4 or L5)~~

Edit: It's in a horseshoe orbit, not at a Lagrange point.

[–] teft@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Its not at any lagrange points. 2002 VE68 is a quasi-satellite in a semi stable horseshoe shaped orbit. Its trapped in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with venus so it appears to orbit venus if youre looking at it from a venusian frame of reference but it actually orbits the sun in a highly elliptical orbit. The thing goes nearly to the earths orbit and then almost mercury’s orbit. If it were a trojan it would stay pretty much inside venus’ orbital path with a bit of wandering around the lagrange point.

Whoops, you're right! I stand corrected.