Ioman
04-05-2003, 11:24 PM
"Astronomers in Hawaii have found six more natural satellites orbiting Jupiter.
Scientists using two powerful telescopes atop the island state's Mauna Kea mountain found the six tiny moons traveling millions of kilometers above the solar system's largest planet. A University of Hawaii astronomer, David Jewitt told reporters the moons are a little more than one kilometer in diameter and travel in a retrograde orbit, or in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation.
The spokesman says the moons' paths suggest that they were captured by Jupiter's gravitational pull, perhaps not long after the immense gas giant itself formed.
Jupiter has 58 known satellites, more than any other planet. The planet's four largest moons were discovered by Galileo in 1610. The University of Hawaii team discovered 18 moons around Jupiter this year, and believes more will be found soon. "
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=E19AA269-0F06-4E85-B1C6DA8084F42876
Scientists using two powerful telescopes atop the island state's Mauna Kea mountain found the six tiny moons traveling millions of kilometers above the solar system's largest planet. A University of Hawaii astronomer, David Jewitt told reporters the moons are a little more than one kilometer in diameter and travel in a retrograde orbit, or in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation.
The spokesman says the moons' paths suggest that they were captured by Jupiter's gravitational pull, perhaps not long after the immense gas giant itself formed.
Jupiter has 58 known satellites, more than any other planet. The planet's four largest moons were discovered by Galileo in 1610. The University of Hawaii team discovered 18 moons around Jupiter this year, and believes more will be found soon. "
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=E19AA269-0F06-4E85-B1C6DA8084F42876