Saturn becomes 'King of the Moon'

[astroavani]

The planet Saturn is being recognized as the "moon king" of our solar system.
Jupiter used to keep track of most of the moons that orbit around it. It has 79. But scientists in the United States have announced the discovery of 20 new moons around Saturn. This gives the planet a new total of 82 moons.
The researchers made the discovery using the powerful Subaru telescope in Hawaii. They collected information over a period of several years.
The team also used new computer models to identify moons and track activities in orbit.
The discovery was announced in late September 2019 by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. The center is responsible for identifying all the smallest planets in the world, comets and "natural outer satellites". The organization also measures the orbital movements of such objects.
Researchers say the newly found moons are very small, measuring about five kilometers in diameter. The team has managed to discover them now because of the best technology that has become available in recent years. This includes more powerful telescopes and greater computing power.
One of the newly identified moons orbits Saturn at a great distance, some 25 million kilometers from the planet. This is further away than any other moon on Saturn.
Seventeen of the new moons orbit Saturn backwards. In other words, its movement is opposite to the rotation of the planet. The other three orbit in the same direction as the planet rotates.
The researchers said that several moons appear to have been formed from parts of larger moons. These past moons probably split up into collisions with other moons or comets or asteroids.
"These new moons show us that the solar system was a very chaotic place in the distant past, with objects flying all over the place," these moons are among the last remaining evidence of the formation of the solar system. All other objects were either pushed out or became parts of other planets.

[Pete Presland]

Beautiful images as always Avani, 79 Moons! That would keep us very occupied if the Earth was similar 🙂

[Ruud]

Excellent images, both of them. Many thanks for sharing!