Hubble telescope spies fifth moon around Pluto

[Judi Lynn]

Hubble telescope spies fifth moon around Pluto
Updated 6m ago

A team of scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope said Wednesday they have discovered the tiniest moon yet around Pluto. That brings the number of known moons to five.

The mini-moon is estimated to be up to 15 miles across, smaller than the one that scientists spotted last year, which is up to 21 miles wide. Pluto's largest moon, Charon, is about 650 miles across.

Until the newly found moon gets a name, it will be known as P5.

A NASA spacecraft named New Horizons will arrive at Pluto in 2015. When New Horizons launched in 2006, Pluto was a full-fledged planet, but astronomers have since demoted it to dwarf planet.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/space/story/2012-07-11/pluto-moon-hubble/56149892/1

[thelordofhell]

1. Now remember folks, Pluto is not a planet

[struggle4progress]

3. Holy moly! I just knew there was something I'd forgotten to be pissed about!

I'd been worried I was starting to imagine that I'd forgotten things!

But I'd really forgotten that Pluto is not a planet

Thank you! You've restored my faith in myself

[thelordofhell]

4. I have this shirt........

http://www.snorgtees.com/back-in-my-day-we-had-nine-planets

[progressoid]

7. Thanks for that link!

I think I found some birthday gifts!

[ahg]

2. Wow, a dog with five moons!

[Motown_Johnny]

5. Doesn't the HST have better things to do?

I could have easily waited until New Horizons got there 3 years from now to learn about one more meaningless little object in this cluster of Kuiper belt objects.


I don't even consider this a real discovery. We would have learned about it soon enough anyways.



No this is not sarcasm. I honestly believe this was a waste of time.

[Fumesucker]

6. I doubt that was the purpose of the observation(s)..

I suspect they're probably trying to refine a map of Pluto and astrography of the surrounding region in order to properly prepare for the New Horizons flyby.

A flyby like that has to be planned in excruciating detail well in advance, there will be no real time communication with the spacecraft if for no other reason than sheer light speed lag to Pluto. If they want closeups of this moon they have to know it's there in advance..