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Rosary3 |
astronomers discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, bringing the total number to 92, a record number in the solar system. Saturn, which used to be the leader, is close behind with 83 confirmed moons.
The natural satellites were discovered using telescopes in Hawaii and Chile in 2021 and 2022. Their orbits were confirmed with follow-up observations. Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science, who was part of the team, explained that the size of the new moons ranges from 0.6 miles to 2 miles (between 0.96 kilometers and 3.2 kilometers). “I hope we can get close-up images of one of these outer moons in the near future to better determine its origins,” he said.
Sheppard indicated that he expects keep making new discoveries of both Jupiter and Saturn. According to the researcher, these planets have small moons, which are believed to be fragments of larger satellites that collided with each other or with comets or asteroids. He added that a similar situation occurs with Uranus and Neptune, but they are so far away that they are difficult to observe.
The scientist pointed out that only half of the new moons are big enough – at least 1.6 kilometers – to deserve a name, according to published APnews.
In April, the European Space Agency will send a spacecraft to Jupiter to study the planet and some of its largest icy moons. And next year, NASA will launch the Europa Clipper to explore Jupiter’s namesake moon, which might harbor an ocean beneath its frozen crust.
