Asteroid trails Earth in weird orbit

I would guess it is magnetism that repels the asteroid. I was thinking the same thing, after all we most certainly don't have a clue as to the molecular structure of all the matter that exist in this universe. It would seem that the Sun has a heavy enough gravitation pull on it to hold it in an orbit around it, yet when it approaches earth, on the same orbit, the earth has a heavy enough gravitational deflection to reverse its orbit.

why? how? what? ??? er is anyone else thinking, how the heck does this thing manage to come hurtling towards earth and then stop and turn around in the opposite direction....?!?!?!

If I was to guess, I'd think it does not turn around, just slows down and speeds up. Such that the orbit they posted is referenced from Earth only, not the Sun. Thus from Earth it would appear to go back the other way and then come near the forward side of the Earth, then speed away back toward the back side of Earth's orbit. That is the only thing that makes sense to me. Otherwise the Earth WOULD have to pass it, for it to have a 175 year orbit.

this rock is doing the same thing two moons that orbit saturn do. they change orbits with each other. but because the earth is so much bigger than this rock cannot move the earth out of its orbit. so this rock is in orbit around the sun, when it gets close to earth the earth either pulls into a higher or lower orbit. which either speeds it up or slows it down. i read about it a year ago. it is only supposed to be in this orbit for i think it is a total of 10 times before it gets shot out of there.

I think it's King Ghidorah.

No sweat ! They will send "Flash" to blow it up way before bed Time!

I'm also baffled at this type of obit as well. Thought, I agree it could be the orbit of the sun is strong enough to pull it back from us. Although this is a cool discovery .

"Asteroid? Or research vessel..."....now that's what i'm talking about....I bet they got some good food on that vessel. Wonder if there is any chance of a recipe swap?

I'm also baffled at this type of obit as well. Thought, I agree it could be the orbit of the sun is strong enough to pull it back from us. Although this is a cool discovery . when this astroid catches up with the earth, the earths gravity speeds it up putting it into a higher orbit which slows it down. when the earth catchs up to it, earths gravity slows it down putting it into a lower orbit which speeds it up. some time in the next 7500 years it will be kicked out of this orbit all together.

Maybe "retrograde motion" is the clue to this all?