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New Moons Discovered Orbiting Uranus and Neptune

Astronomers have identified three previously unknown moons, shedding light on the outer reaches of our solar system.

This discovery image shows the new Uranian moon S/2023 U1 using the Magellan telescope on November 4, 2023. Uranus (upper left) is just off the field of view.
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Overview

  • Astronomers have discovered three new moons orbiting Uranus and Neptune, marking significant additions to our understanding of the outer solar system.
  • The discovery was made possible through advanced image processing and observations from ground-based telescopes, including the Magellan and Subaru telescopes.
  • One of the newly discovered moons orbits Uranus, bringing its total known moons to 28, while the other two orbit Neptune, increasing its moon count to 16.
  • The moons are among the faintest ever found around these ice giants, with the smallest moon measuring just five miles in diameter.
  • The discoveries are expected to deepen our understanding of the early solar system and the formation of moons around ice giant planets.