6-Feb-2023: Jupiter Becomes the Planet with Most Moons

Astronomers recently discovered 12 new moons around Jupiter, increasing the total number of moons it has to 92 - the largest number any planet on our solar system has.

Jupiter has 92 moons

• 12 new moons were discovered in 2021 and 2022
• Telescopes in Hawaii and Chile were used for the discovery
• The size of the new moons ranges from 1-3 kms

Number of moons of other planets in Solar system:

• Saturn has 83 moons
• Uranus has 27 confirmed moons
• Neptune has 14 moons
• Mars has 2 moons
• Earth has 1 moon
• Venus and Mercury have no moons

Upcoming missions to Jupiter

• ESA’s spacecraft to study Jupiter and its icy moons in 2023
• NASA’s Europa Clipper to explore Europa's ocean beneath its frozen crust in 2024
• NASA's Mission Lucy to explore the Jupiter Trojan Asteroids