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Official Recognition of 128 New Moons of Saturn

The article from NextBigFuture discusses the official recognition of 128 new moons orbiting Saturn, bringing the total number of known moons around the planet to 145. This significant increase in the count of Saturn's moons was confirmed by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center. The discovery was primarily made by a team led by Edward Ashton, Matthew Beaudoin, and Brett Gladman using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. These newly recognized moons are small, ranging from 2 to 8 kilometers in diameter, and are part of the irregular moon population, which suggests they were captured by Saturn's gravity rather than forming with the planet. The moons are grouped into three main clusters based on their orbital characteristics, with some following retrograde orbits, indicating they might have originated from collisions or captures of larger bodies. This discovery not only enhances our understanding of Saturn's satellite system but also provides insights into the dynamics of planetary formation and the history of the solar system.

Read the Full NextBigFuture Article at:
[ https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2025/03/official-recognition-of-128-new-moons-of-saturn.html ]