Ten more moons of Jupiter discovered
Posted: Mon, Jan 8, 2001, 12:08 AM ET (0508 GMT)
Astronomers announced Friday the discovery of ten more moons orbiting the planet Jupiter, bringing the giant planet's total to 28. The moons were found in late November and early December by a University of Hawaii group using a 2.2-meter telescope atop Mauna Kea. All ten are small bodies, perhaps no more than five kilometers in diameter. Nine of the ten are in retrograde orbits 21 to 24 million kilometers from the planet; the tenth is in a prograde orbit just under 13 million kilometers from Jupiter. The discovery is the latest in an unprecedented surge of discoveries that includes 12 moons found around Saturn since late October. Saturn still has the most known moons, with 30, followed by Jupiter with 28 and Uranus with 21.
Astronomers announced Friday the discovery of ten more moons orbiting the planet Jupiter, bringing the giant planet's total to 28. The moons were found in late November and early December by a University of Hawaii group using a 2.2-meter telescope atop Mauna Kea. All ten are small bodies, perhaps no more than five kilometers in diameter. Nine of the ten are in retrograde orbits 21 to 24 million kilometers from the planet; the tenth is in a prograde orbit just under 13 million kilometers from Jupiter. The discovery is the latest in an unprecedented surge of discoveries that includes 12 moons found around Saturn since late October. Saturn still has the most known moons, with 30, followed by Jupiter with 28 and Uranus with 21.
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