Chapter 1: Saturn's Record-Breaking Moons

With the recent identification of 20 additional moons, Saturn now boasts the highest number of moons in the Solar System, totaling 82 and surpassing Jupiter's 79. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) invites the public to participate in naming these newly-found celestial objects.

The new moons, each measuring about five kilometers (three miles) in diameter, present a fascinating mix of orbits. Of the 20, 17 follow a retrograde path—moving in the same direction as Saturn's rotation—while the remaining three have a prograde orbit. Two of these prograde moons complete their orbits around Saturn in less than two years, whereas the third, along with the retrograde satellites, takes over three years to make a complete revolution. Notably, one of the retrograde moons is the most distant satellite known in Saturn’s system.

The orbits of these newly found moons around Saturn are depicted here. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute. Starry background courtesy of Paolo Sartorio/Shutterstock.

Scott S. Sheppard from Carnegie Science notes, “Examining the orbits of these moons can provide insights into their origins, as well as the conditions surrounding Saturn during its formation.”

This image illustrates the orbits of Saturn's moons from a top-down perspective. Image credit: Carnegie Science.

Here’s a side view of Saturn's moons, where their orbital angles resemble pick-up sticks. Image credit: Carnegie Science.

The outer moons of Saturn are loosely grouped into three clusters, with each of the newly discovered moons linked to one of these formations. This arrangement suggests that these small moons might have originated from the fragmentation of larger celestial bodies in the past.

For instance, the Inuit group of moons orbits at an angle exceeding 45 degrees from the majority of Saturn's moons, while the Gallic group maintains a 36-degree angle. Sheppard elaborates, “This type of outer moon clustering is also observed around Jupiter, indicating past violent collisions among moons in the Saturnian system or with external objects like asteroids or comets.”

Just as the planets formed from a primordial cloud of gas and dust, similar processes are believed to have occurred around Saturn billions of years ago.

The discovery of these moons was made possible through observations with the Subaru telescope situated on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

“The scientific theory I find most amusing is that Saturn’s rings are entirely composed of lost airline luggage.” — Mark Russell.

In 2018, Sheppard and his team identified 12 moons orbiting Jupiter, followed by a public naming contest for five of them. This time, the public is again invited to suggest names for these small celestial bodies. However, whimsical suggestions like Moony Moon McMoonface are not allowed; names must originate from figures in Norse, Gallic, or Inuit mythology. Further details on the naming rules can be found on the Carnegie Science website.

Chapter 2: Join the Naming Contest

The first video highlights the exciting discovery of 20 new moons around Saturn and invites viewers to participate in naming them!

The second video discusses the recent findings regarding Saturn's moons and elaborates on the naming process.

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