I was thinking about space-elevators and large masses being put into geosynchronous orbit, when I considered the possibility of a natural satellite being in a synchronous orbit. I did a little digging (5 minutes on Google) and I found this.
As a follow up question, what would have to happen for this to occur without the meddling influence of man?
The only way I can really think that this could happen, is if these things all happened..
- Natural satellite has to be in an equatorial orbit.
- It has to be in a lower orbit than the "synchronous orbit distance"
- It must be massive enough that tidal forces can slow it until the orbit has a radius equal to the synchronous orbit distance.
And even given all the above, I don't see a way that orbit could last long. (Even at the moon's 3.8 cm/year, it would still only be in a synchronous orbit for several months at most.)
Is my thinking correct?