Hubble Confirms New Moons of Pluto

[FLO]

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have confirmed the presence of two new moons around the distant planet Pluto. The moons were first discovered by Hubble in May 2005, but the Pluto Companion Search team probed even deeper into the Pluto system with Hubble on Feb. 15 to look for additional satellites and to characterize the orbits of the moons. In the image, Pluto is in the center and Charon is just below it. The moons, provisionally designated S/2005 P 1 and S/2005 P 2, are located to the right of Pluto and Charon.

http://tinyurl.com/j9g9b

[Martin 2]

its going to be very interesting to see what comes back from the probe thats on its way to pluto

Martin 2

[Naz]

So now that Pluto has its orbiters, does this mean its status is safer? I know that Charon has been known for some time now.

Yet another good find Steve

nabban

[The Warthog]

So now that Pluto has its orbiters, does this mean its status is safer? I know that Charon has been known for some time now.

Yet another good find Steve

nabban

It could just be demoted to the status of 'double worldlet' or something like that. Asteroids and other bodies with companions are about as common as singles.

[Naz]

Yes WH, but I was kinda wishing that no one would mention them.

Selective suggestions! :laugh:

nabban