Jupiter Reclaims Title of Planet With the Most Moons
Astronomers have discovered 12 more moons orbiting Jupiter, bringing the number of known natural satellites to 92, overtaking Saturn's 83 moons. The smaller moons, ranging from 0.6 to 2 miles in diameter, were detected using telescopes in Hawaii and Chile in 2021 and 2022. The new moons' distances from Jupiter take 340-550 days to orbit. Scientists hope to learn more about Jupiter and its moons through upcoming missions, including the European Space Agency's observation of Jupiter's icy moons and NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft, set to launch in 2024. Mapping out Jupiter's moons helps plan missions and protect spacecraft.
Photo Credit: SIMON LEE