Astronomers have made an exciting discovery in our solar system, spotting three previously unknown moons. Two of these moons have been found orbiting Neptune, while the third has been identified around Uranus.
The discovery was made possible through the use of powerful land-based telescopes located in Hawaii and Chile. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center officially announced the findings on Friday.
With these new additions, Neptune's moon count now stands at 16, while Uranus has a total of 28 known moons.
One of the newly discovered moons around Neptune has the longest orbital journey ever recorded. It takes approximately 27 years for this small outer moon to complete a single orbit around Neptune, the distant icy planet located farthest from the sun.
The moon orbiting Uranus is estimated to have a diameter of just 5 miles (8 kilometers), making it likely the smallest moon in the planet's collection. Scientists believe that there could be many more smaller moons waiting to be discovered around Uranus.
This latest discovery sheds light on the diverse and fascinating moons that populate our solar system. The search for new celestial bodies continues, as astronomers strive to deepen our understanding of the universe and its many wonders.
Exciting times lie ahead as we uncover more secrets hidden within the vast expanse of space.
