NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope revealed Saturn has regained its title as the planet with the most moons in the solar system, with the discovery of 62 new moons, bringing its total to 145, far surpassing Jupiter’s 95. Led by Edward Ashton, an international team utilized the “shift and stack” technique to identify moons as small as 1.5 miles in diameter. This innovative approach has been applied to other planets but was newly implemented for Saturn. The researchers tracked these irregular moons over time to confirm their status, as the International Astronomical Union (IAU) requires consistent observation for recognition. These moons are believed to be remnants of ancient collisions, providing insight into Saturn’s moon formation and history. Dr. Brett Gladman noted evidence suggesting a significant collision around 100 million years ago that affected Saturn’s irregular moons. Saturn, now the only planet with more than 100 moons, continues to intrigue astronomers, who suspect thousands more moonlets may be hidden within its rings, with potential discoveries of hundreds of additional kilometer-sized objects on the horizon. The findings highlight the dynamic and ongoing exploration of our solar system’s celestial bodies.
