Neptune's kidnap puzzle 'cracked' (BBC) {Triton "captured" from pair}

[eppur_se_muova]

By Paul Rincon
BBC News science reporter

Neptune's moon Triton used to be paired with another object, but was torn from its companion during capture by the eighth planet's gravitational field.

This is the new model put forward to explain the moon's present location.

The capture of such a large object as Triton by the gas giant has proven extremely challenging to explain.

But Craig Agnor and Douglas Hamilton tell the journal Nature that an early Solar System that saw Triton moving in a twosome would answer many questions.


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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4758091.stm

Just a reminder that your government has photos of Uranus.

[tocqueville]

1. when will Uranus be cracked ?

sorry, couldn't help, was coming anyway...

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I just hope this is watertight ...