Saturn’s Moon Count Surges with Discovery of 128 New Moons

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Astronomers have identified an additional 128 moons orbiting Saturn, bringing the planet’s total to an astonishing 274. This discovery surpasses the total moon count for all other planets in the solar system combined, showcasing Saturn as the moon-rich giant of our celestial neighborhood.

The new moons were detected using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Researchers from Academia Sinica, including lead astronomer Ashton, spent numerous hours capturing images of Saturn, compensating for the planet’s movement by layering dozens of images to enhance the visibility of previously unnoticeable objects.

Each of the newly identified moons measures between 2 and 4 kilometers in diameter and is likely the result of collisions among larger moons that occurred hundreds of millions, if not billions, of years ago. “These are small little rocks floating in space, so some might not find it quite an achievement,” Ashton remarked. “But I think it’s important to have a catalogue of all the objects in the solar system.”

Despite the wealth of data gathered, the newly discovered moons still appear as mere “fuzzy blobs” in the images, according to Ashton. Although more powerful telescopes could provide additional clarity, many of these instruments have narrower fields of view, necessitating an increased number of images to achieve a comprehensive picture.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially recognized the new moons, granting Ashton and his team the opportunity to name them. Ashton noted that he has reached out to representatives from Canada’s Indigenous populations for potential naming suggestions and is considering a public naming contest.

With the surge in moon discoveries, questions arise regarding the potential for finding even more moons. Researchers have been scrutinizing Saturn’s vicinity for decades using progressively enhanced telescopic technology. In 2019, astronomers made significant findings, and in 2023, Ashton and his team uncovered additional moons, separate from the latest 128.

Ashton believes that future discoveries will heavily rely on advancements in telescope technology. He estimates that there could be thousands of moons orbiting Saturn, without accounting for the smaller rocks that constitute the planet’s rings.

Alexandersen, an astronomer at the Minor Planet Center, suggests that the number of moons remaining to be discovered in our solar system is substantial as improvements in telescope capabilities allow for the detection of smaller objects. He pointed out that the IAU has decided not to prioritize naming moons smaller than one kilometer due to the likelihood of an overwhelming number of identified moons. “They’ll probably only name it if a spacecraft goes to visit it,” Alexandersen added.

The determination of what constitutes a moon versus a mere rock is an area of debate, with potential distinctions likely falling between one kilometer and one meter in diameter. “Ultimately, it probably won’t be my decision; it’ll be the IAU that sets a cutoff, which will generate discussion—similar to the ongoing debate on what defines a planet,” he said.

Day, an academic from Imperial College London, highlighted potential future commercial interests in accurately mapping the solar system. “We might want to extract resources from asteroids and moons. Thus, having a great understanding of what is where is essential for that,” he emphasized.