Pluto may have two more moons
Posted: Tue, Nov 1, 2005, 9:22 AM ET (1422 GMT)
Hubble Space Telescope observations of Pluto have revealed the existence of what may be two additional moons orbiting the distant planet, NASA announced Monday. The objects, provisionally designated S/2005 P1 and S/2005 P2, were discovered by astronomers in two sets of Hubble images taken three days apart in May 2005. The candidate moons appeared to move in orbit around Pluto at a distance of about 50,000 and 65,000 km from the planet during the observations. Confirmation that the objects are indeed moons will have to wait for additional Hubble observations scheduled for next February; groundbased telescopes cannot detect the faint moons. The moons, thought to be each on the order of 100 km across, may be debris left over from the collision that formed Pluto's largest moon, Charon.
Hubble Space Telescope observations of Pluto have revealed the existence of what may be two additional moons orbiting the distant planet, NASA announced Monday. The objects, provisionally designated S/2005 P1 and S/2005 P2, were discovered by astronomers in two sets of Hubble images taken three days apart in May 2005. The candidate moons appeared to move in orbit around Pluto at a distance of about 50,000 and 65,000 km from the planet during the observations. Confirmation that the objects are indeed moons will have to wait for additional Hubble observations scheduled for next February; groundbased telescopes cannot detect the faint moons. The moons, thought to be each on the order of 100 km across, may be debris left over from the collision that formed Pluto's largest moon, Charon.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, September 18
Russia developing Starlink rival at 'rapid pace,' space chief says
Reuters — 1:56 am ET (0556 GMT) Rocket Lab Looks To Raise $750M In Share Sale
Aviation Week — 1:53 am ET (0553 GMT) Blue Origin hires Christopher Fuller as marketing and comms head
PRWeek — 1:52 am ET (0552 GMT) Weather Causes SpaceX Team to Scrub Wednesday’s Liftoff Attempt From VSFB
Noozhawk — 1:50 am ET (0550 GMT) Update: SpaceX Launch from Vandenberg Rescheduled Due to Weather
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 1:50 am ET (0550 GMT) |
