Astronomers Spot Three Undiscovered Moons in Our Solar System, Bringing Total to 293
Astronomers have made an exciting discovery in our solar system, spotting three previously undiscovered moons. This brings the total number of natural satellites in our solar system to approximately 293. The announcement was made by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center on Friday, revealing that one of the newly found moons is orbiting Uranus, while the other two are situated around Neptune.
To make these groundbreaking discoveries, scientists utilized a series of powerful telescopes located in Chile and Hawaii. Scott Sheppard, a member of the Carnegie Institution for Science, Earth and Planets Laboratory, explained that these three moons are the faintest ever found around the ice giant planets using ground-based telescopes. Special image processing techniques were required to reveal these faint objects.
The institute disclosed that the moon near Uranus increases the ice planet’s total number of moons to 28. On the other hand, Neptune is now believed to have 16 moons. The smallest moon among the newly discovered trio is S/2023 U1, measuring only about 5 miles wide. In line with the naming conventions for other Uranian satellites, this moon will be given a name inspired by a character from a Shakespeare play.
Moving on to Neptune’s natural satellites, Sheppard revealed that they were initially spotted in 2021. Subsequent observations in 2022 and 2023 provided more data, solidifying the theories surrounding these newly found objects. The brighter Neptune moon, provisionally designated as S/2002 N5, has a size of approximately 23 kilometers (14 miles) and takes nearly 9 years to complete its orbit around the ice giant. On the other hand, the fainter Neptune moon, provisionally named S/2021 N1, measures about 14 kilometers (9 miles) and has an orbit of almost 27 years.
Both S/2002 N5 and S/2021 N1 are expected to be named after sea nymphs from Greek mythology by the International Astronomical Union. However, it remains uncertain whether the process of naming these new moons will take place during the upcoming IAU General Assembly gathering in August in Cape Town, South Africa, which spans over a week.
While these moons may be new to astronomers, experts believe that they are not new to our solar system. This suggests that there could be even more discoveries waiting to be made. According to NASA, Saturn and Jupiter have the highest number of moons, likely due to their strong gravitational pull. On the other hand, Mercury and Venus do not have any natural satellites.
This recent discovery highlights the continuous exploration and understanding of our solar system. With advancements in technology and the tireless efforts of astronomers, we can expect more fascinating discoveries in the future. The study of these moons provides valuable insights into the formation and dynamics of our celestial neighborhood, expanding our knowledge of the vast universe that surrounds us.
