Jupiter now has 79 planet moons
#MTNshortz3sixtyworld
Researchers said that Jupiter, the oldest and largest planet, has 79 planet moons with the latest discovery of 12 new ones.
U.S. researchers announced the discovery of 12 new moons orbiting Jupiter, bringing the total number of the planet’s known moons to 79.
The discovery means Jupiter, the oldest and largest planet in the solar system, has more moons than any of the other seven.
Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington and his team discovered the moons more than a year ago while looking for a possible massive planet beyond Pluto.
“Jupiter just happened to be in the sky near the search fields where we were looking for extremely distant solar system objects,” Sheppard said, according to a Carnegie Institution news release.
The team was able to look for new moons “serendipitously,” he added.
Gareth Williams of the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center used Sheppard’s observations to calculate orbits for the newly found moons.
“It takes several observations to confirm an object actually orbits around Jupiter,” Williams said.
“So, the whole process took a year.”
Eleven of the newly discovered moons are considered normal, with diameters between one and three kms.
Nine of them are part of a distant outer swarm of moons that orbit in the opposite direction of Jupiter’s spin rotation; two are much closer to Jupiter and orbit in the same direction as the planet.
The 12th moon is being called an oddball because, while it orbits in the same direction as Jupiter’s spin, it is much farther away than the others orbiting in that direction and it is comparatively tiny.
More Stories
LAGOS CREATES 3,941 NEW PARKING SLOTS TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION
The Lagos State Government has announced the creation of 3,941 new parking slots across key locations as part of its...
CRIME: FBI ARRESTS 22 NIGERIANS OVER ALLEGED SEXTORTION SCAMS
In a sweeping international operation targeting a surge in online sexual extortion scams, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has...
LAGOS MINISTRY EMPOWERS 2,680 BUSINESS OWNERS WITH CASH GRANTS
2,680 Business owners have benefitted from the NG-CARES (Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus) under the Lagos State Ministry...
Y2025 WORLD MALARIA DAY: LAGOS MARCHES TOWARDS MALARIA ELIMINATION
… Governor Mandates Health Ministry to Drive Pre-Elimination Strategy … Commissioner Declares Lagos at 1.3% Malaria Prevalence … SFH, Goodknight,...
RELOCATION OF KWASU FACULTY OF AGRIC ON HOLD
The Management of Kwara State University (KWASU) has suspended the planned relocation of its Faculty of Agriculture to the Ilesha-Baruba...
CRIME: EFCC DECLARES EIGHT PERSONS WANTED OVER CBEX FRAUD
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared four persons wanted over their alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme...