Saturn has been found to have a total of 274 moons, nearly triple that of Jupiter and more than the combined number of known moons around other planets. The discovery raises questions about why our solar system is home to such a large number of satellites.
The new moon discoveries were made possible by advancements in telescope technology and improved detection techniques. Astronomer Edward Ashton led a team that used the Canada France Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea to confirm 128 new moons, bringing Saturn’s total to its current count.
The small rocks orbiting Saturn are unlike our own Moon, which is approximately 3,475 kilometers wide. These moonlets swing around Saturn in chaotic, distant orbits and often move in reverse relative to the planet’s major moons, such as Titan and Rhea.
Previous observations by Scott Sheppard hinted at the existence of these smaller moons two decades ago, but many could not be confirmed due to limitations in tracking their orbits. Ashton was able to revisit those findings thanks to improved detection techniques and additional telescope time.
The discovery of 128 new moons has shed light on Saturn’s movements, which have helped reduce background noise from nearby stars, making it easier to detect faint signals from the moonlets. The study will be published in the Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00781-1