While planets like Jupiter and Saturn might be known for having an extreme number of moons, with 95 and 146 orbiting each respectively. Uranus and Neptune’s numbers of natural satellites are increasing as well.
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00:03 While planets like Jupiter and Saturn might be known for having an extreme number of moons,
00:08 with 95 and 146 orbiting each respectively,
00:12 Uranus and Neptune's numbers of natural satellites are increasing as well.
00:16 Astronomers have recently identified two new moons orbiting our solar system's most distant planet, Neptune,
00:21 and one new one orbiting Uranus.
00:24 They were discovered rather conventionally using ground-based telescopes.
00:27 However, it required special image processing after the fact.
00:30 This is all part of our astronomical tools becoming more robust
00:33 as humanity continues its obsession with space exploration.
00:37 And experts say they think this is just the beginning,
00:39 and that these two planets could be involved in the next big wave of moon discoveries.
00:44 The new moon orbiting Uranus is called S/2023 U1,
00:48 and it's the first moon discovered around the planet in over two decades.
00:51 It's only around five miles across, meaning it's one of the smallest in the entire solar system as well.
00:56 Moving around Uranus once every 680 days.
01:00 Meanwhile, the new moons discovered around Neptune are 14.3 and 8.7 miles in diameter.
01:06 Astronomers say these newly discovered orbiters are situated similarly to Saturn's and Jupiter's,
01:11 meaning there may yet be many more hiding out there in the far reaches of our solar system.
01:17 [music]