Scientists Announce Discovery of Fifth Moon around Dwarf Planet Pluto
The new moon, or satellite, could be shrapnel from a huge cosmic collision between Pluto and another larger object.
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For a dwarf planet, Pluto has a lot going on around it.
Scientists announced today the discovery of a fifth moon around Pluto, which was once considered the ninth planet in our solar system. The moon was spotted by researchers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The new moon joins P4, which was found last year, and Nix and Hydra, which were discovered in 2005. According to Space.com, the dwarf planet's other known moon, Charon, was discovered in 1978.
Space.com also offers five fun facts about the new moon, including its current name, its shape, its distance from Pluto, what it might be and why it might have scientists slightly worried.
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Deanna Allen
7:18 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Are you intrigued by the solar system and its mysteries? Did you follow the Venus transit back in June?
Brian Crawford
8:10 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I miss you Pluto. You'll always be a planet to me.