Jupiter, the largest and heaviest of the planets in the solar system, also has the title of planet with the most satellites (moon).
As the number of official satellites orbiting Jupiter, like Earth’s moon, was added, the total number increased to 92, surpassing Saturn (83), which has been recognized as the planet with the most satellites.
According to science professional media and foreign media, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) ‘Miscellaneous Planet Center’ (MPC) recently listed ‘Carnegie Institute of Science’ astronomer Scott Shepard in the recent list of Jupiter satellites. Discovery by telescopes in Chile and Hawaii in 2021-2022 , and added 12 satellites whose orbits were confirmed through follow-up observations.
| ▲ Jupiter and moon Europa captured with a 2.12㎛ filter by the Webb telescope NIRCam. |
All of these satellites are located on the outskirts of the Moon, with orbital periods exceeding 340 days.
In particular, 9 are included in the ‘outermost satellite’ with an orbital period of more than 550 days. It was presumed to have been captured and turned into a satellite.
The remaining three satellites were found between the inner ‘Galilean satellite’ and the outermost satellite, and it was analyzed that they were formed together with Jupiter because they rotate in direct orbits in the same direction as Jupiter’s rotation.
Jupiter and Saturn have satellites larger than the planet Mercury, such as Ganymede and Titan, respectively, but most are smaller. These satellites are believed to have been broken by comets, asteroids, or large satellites colliding with each other.
Jupiter’s satellites added 15% each time, giving it the status of the planet with the most satellites, but it was suggested that Saturn would regain the top spot if all of the satellites were able to be found.
Uranus and Neptune, which are further out than Saturn, have also been confirmed to have 27 and 14 moons, respectively.
Mercury and Venus, which are further inward than Earth, have no moons at all, while Mars has two.
Satellites are affected by the gravity of the sun as well as the planets, and they have to check the orbits for up to two years.
Science Team [email protected]
<저작권자 © 전파신문, 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지>
