how many moons

[jimmythemoonlight]

Can someone please help I have been on Google to ask how many moons the earth has,but it doesn't give me a definative answer.I was watching a episode of QI last year and the answer was two a year later it has risen to five so please can someone tell me once and for all how many please many thanks. Clear skies always Jimmy

[Paul M]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other_moons_of_Earth

I didn't realise anyone was seriously counting any other bodies in true Earth orbit.

It appears that other than some small asteroids hitching the occasional ride, we have only one moon, The Moon!

[emadmoussa]

Our moon is the only natural satellite, other objects are defined as quasi-satellites. They either take the same orbit around the sun as Earth or fall - within their periodical orbit - into the Earth's orbit.

There are a number of these objects already on record, but there isn't a consensus amongst astronomers whether to define them as moons.

[Paul M]

Interestingly, the Moon's orbital motion is always concave to the Sun.

Who's orbiting who here?

[jimmythemoonlight]

Many thanks for all your answers I knew I would get a definative one from the experts feel like emailing the BBC and in particular QI.