Question If One Put a Massive Asteroid in Geosynchronous Orbit of Earth at 100 Miles of Altitude Would that Change the Day Length?

[Questioner]

If One Put a Massive Asteroid in Geosynchronous Orbit of Earth at 100 Miles of Altitude Would that Change the Day Length?

It would certainly add a wobble to Earth's rotation.

How much of a wobble would it cause?

 

[promytius]

how much does a large quantity influence another thing...that's as specific as yours...
The answer is also vague: a bit.

 

[Questioner]

It has to be enough mass to achieve geosynchronity at that elevation.

I'm not sure how much that is, but it's a tremendous amount to sustain an orbit that low & slow.

Built-in tidal lock that reinforces the current speed.

A bit of a twin planetoid.

I don't think it will change the day length & it might even be usable to tune the Earth's rotation speed a smidge over time.

 

[Questioner]

Initially one might let it rotate to find its gravitational 'sweet spot/position although that might be pre calculated.

One doesn't want that puppy rotating on its own volalition.

 

[Questioner]

It might cause some geological stimulation as well.

Initially it will create a gravity draw, whether that creates longer term geoactivity I don't know.

 

[Catastrophe]

As suggested, it depends on the mass, which will pull forward / pull back Earth location behind/in front of the body. This could, just, lengthen and shorten the day in that vicinity. This area 'moving' around the Earth beneath the asteroid. No - because it is defined as geosynchronous. So how did it arrive in such an orbit? Almost impossible, but still almost.

The simplest answer(s) might be just that the asteroid is pulled to Earth - it must have arrived with momentum towards Earth - or that it exploded at the Roche limit.

There are more things to concern us than the almost impossible.

Cat

 

[Questioner]

I hope it doesn't amount to replacing the ancient low altitude Moon.

Although I do know where there's an available body....

 

[Zaphod the Elder]

I hope it doesn't amount to replacing the ancient low altitude Moon.

Although I do know where there's an available body....

Uuuuhhhh, people, you can't have a geosynchronous orbit at 100 miles up. Not possible. NO. NOT.