Pluto may have two more moons
Posted: Tue, Nov 1, 2005, 9:22 AM ET (1422 GMT)
Hubble Space Telescope observations of Pluto have revealed the existence of what may be two additional moons orbiting the distant planet, NASA announced Monday. The objects, provisionally designated S/2005 P1 and S/2005 P2, were discovered by astronomers in two sets of Hubble images taken three days apart in May 2005. The candidate moons appeared to move in orbit around Pluto at a distance of about 50,000 and 65,000 km from the planet during the observations. Confirmation that the objects are indeed moons will have to wait for additional Hubble observations scheduled for next February; groundbased telescopes cannot detect the faint moons. The moons, thought to be each on the order of 100 km across, may be debris left over from the collision that formed Pluto's largest moon, Charon.
Hubble Space Telescope observations of Pluto have revealed the existence of what may be two additional moons orbiting the distant planet, NASA announced Monday. The objects, provisionally designated S/2005 P1 and S/2005 P2, were discovered by astronomers in two sets of Hubble images taken three days apart in May 2005. The candidate moons appeared to move in orbit around Pluto at a distance of about 50,000 and 65,000 km from the planet during the observations. Confirmation that the objects are indeed moons will have to wait for additional Hubble observations scheduled for next February; groundbased telescopes cannot detect the faint moons. The moons, thought to be each on the order of 100 km across, may be debris left over from the collision that formed Pluto's largest moon, Charon.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Virgin Galactic slightly delays resumption of commercial flights
Posted: Sat, Aug 9 11:05 AM ET (1505 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, August 15
USAID Criticized Over Lack of Oversight on Starlink Terminals Supplied to Ukraine
United24 Media — 7:59 am ET (1159 GMT) In Colorado Springs, KBR employees help map global satellite traffic for Space Force
Colorado Springs Gazette — 7:58 am ET (1158 GMT) Blue Origin Pushes Back New Glenn Flight 2 Launch Window
Aviation Week — 7:57 am ET (1157 GMT) Spaceport America loses some lift following Virgin Galactic pause
Albuquerque Journal — 7:56 am ET (1156 GMT) SpaceX redesigns Starship to get Mars-bound rocket to stop exploding
The Independent — 7:55 am ET (1155 GMT) |
