Astronomers discover 11 moons of Jupiter
Posted: Fri, May 17, 2002, 7:59 AM ET (1159 GMT)
Astronomers announced Thursday that they had discovered 11 moons orbiting Jupiter, giving the giant planet a total of 39 natural satellites, more than any other planet. The moons were discovered in images taken in mid-December by a wide-field CCD camera at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. All 11 moons are small bodies, between two and four kilometers across, orbiting Jupiter in elliptical, inclined, retrograde orbits at an average distance from Jupiter of 21 million kilometers. The orbits suggest these are captured bodies from the asteroid belt, but since capture is an inefficient mechanism in the present-day solar system, astronomers think that the bodies were captured in the early history of the solar system. Further research may allow planetary scientists to differentiate between two models for the capture of these bodies. Astronomers believe that Jupiter may have up to 100 moons one kilometer or larger in diameter.
Astronomers announced Thursday that they had discovered 11 moons orbiting Jupiter, giving the giant planet a total of 39 natural satellites, more than any other planet. The moons were discovered in images taken in mid-December by a wide-field CCD camera at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. All 11 moons are small bodies, between two and four kilometers across, orbiting Jupiter in elliptical, inclined, retrograde orbits at an average distance from Jupiter of 21 million kilometers. The orbits suggest these are captured bodies from the asteroid belt, but since capture is an inefficient mechanism in the present-day solar system, astronomers think that the bodies were captured in the early history of the solar system. Further research may allow planetary scientists to differentiate between two models for the capture of these bodies. Astronomers believe that Jupiter may have up to 100 moons one kilometer or larger in diameter.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
California commission votes against increase in SpaceX Vandenberg launches
Posted: Sun, Aug 17 11:32 AM ET (1532 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, August 21
SpaceX’s Expensive Starship Explosions Are Starting to Add Up
Bloomberg News — 5:02 am ET (0902 GMT) Abolition of independent UK Space Agency welcomed by industry
New Civil Engineer — 5:00 am ET (0900 GMT) Webb Telescope Images Previously Unknown Moon of Uranus
Aviation Week — 4:59 am ET (0859 GMT) The true cost of colonizing space
Baltimore Sun — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) FAA’s informed consent rules leave space tourists flying blind
Space News — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) |
