New space record: Jupiter surpasses Saturn in number of satellites

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Astrophysicists have discovered a dozen new satellites orbiting Jupiter. This means that the planet now has the most satellites in the solar system, overtaking Saturn.

Jupiter now has 92 satellites, while Saturn has ‘only’ 83 known moons. But there are more discoveries to be made, reports astronomer Scott Sheppard, who carried out the observations, in the journal Sky & Telescope.

Jupiter has more satellites, at least for the moment, but Saturn may be catching up. Looking for objects about three kilometres across, the researchers found three times as many on Saturn as on Jupiter. These small satellites of Saturn may have been formed by impacts hundreds of millions of years ago.

Jupiter’s new satellites are not much bigger and are far away from the gas giant. 9 of the 12 newly discovered objects are grouped with 71 other satellites in orbit.

Only five of the newly discovered satellites are larger than 8 kilometres. According to Sheppard, they could be fragments formed when larger satellites collided.

Sheppard has used telescopes in Hawaii and Chile to make his observations and hopes to study his discoveries more closely on upcoming ESA and NASA missions to Jupiter. So far, he has helped discover 70 of Jupiter’s satellites.