Saturn has solidified its title as the moon king in our solar system with the discovery of 128 new moons, bringing its total to 274. This number surpasses all other planets combined. The finding was ratified by the International Astronomical Union and comes after a team of scientists discovered an additional 64 moons orbiting Saturn just two years ago.
According to Brett Gladman, a University of British Columbia professor, understanding how planets formed and evolved is awe-inspiring. The discovery likely settles the score for Saturn’s title, with Gladman stating that Jupiter will not be able to reclaim it. The new moons were discovered using the Canada France Hawaii Telescope and are believed to have formed when Saturn pulled in larger moons four billion years ago.
The moons surrounding other planets are often irregularly shaped and small, like asteroids, which can provide clues into their formation. The process of collisions and fragmentation is thought to be responsible for the high number of smaller pieces orbiting Saturn. Scientists believe that similar events could occur on Jupiter’s moons, but such occurrences are rare, ensuring Saturn’s title remains safe for a few hundred million years.
The discovery is a good day for fans of the ringed planet, with Sara Mazrouei, a planetary scientist, saying it’s a “good day to be a fan” of Saturn. The finding highlights the awe-inspiring nature of space exploration and the complexity of our solar system.
Source: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/saturn-moon-king-1.7483266