Scientists found three new moons in our solar system. A moon is a natural object that travels around a planet. Two of the moons orbit, or travel around, Neptune. One orbits Uranus. Uranus and Neptune are the farthest planets from Earth.
Powerful telescopes on Earth were used to spot the moons. Scientists studied many photographs taken by the telescopes to find the moons.
All three of the moons are very small. Uranus’s new moon is only five miles wide. One of Neptune’s new moons is nine miles wide, while the other is 14 miles wide.
The new moons will be named like the planets’ other moons. Neptune’s moons will be named after Greek sea gods. Uranus’s moon will be named after a character in one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Scientists are still looking. They think that that there are more small moons that we have not yet found.
What Do You Think? Why do you think it took scientists so long to find these moons?
Photo Credit: NASA/JPL
