The Moons of Our Solar System

How many moons are in our solar system? 1? 9? 61? 159? 159 and counting!

Moons of the Inner Planets Mercury = 0 Venus = 0 Earth = 1, The Moon Mars = 2, Phobos & Deimos

Moons of the Outer Planets Jupiter = 63, including Callisto, Io, Europa, Ganymede Saturn = 56, including Titan, Enceladus, Dione, Pan Uranus = 27, including Ariel, Titania, Puck, Oberon Neptune = 13, including Triton, Galatea, Larissa Pluto = 3, Charon, Nix, Hydra

Comparing the Moons with Earth

The Earth’s Moon 384,403 km (238,857 mi) from Earth & 3,476 km (2,160 mi) in diameter 384,403 km (238,857 mi) from Earth & 3,476 km (2,160 mi) in diameter 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes for rotation and revolution around the Earth 27 days, 7 hours, 43 minutes for rotation and revolution around the Earth Earth’s gravity keeps the same face of the moon permanently turned toward us Earth’s gravity keeps the same face of the moon permanently turned toward us

The Earth’s Moon It’s the only other place in the Solar System that humans have visited. It’s the only other place in the Solar System that humans have visited. Recently, water ice was discovered at the poles underneath the dusty, cratered surface Recently, water ice was discovered at the poles underneath the dusty, cratered surface A “blue moon” is a second full moon in 1 month, & occurs every few years A “blue moon” is a second full moon in 1 month, & occurs every few years The Earth’s Moon along with Jupiter & 4 of its moons

The Moons of Mars Mars has 2 moons: Phobos & Deimos Mars has 2 moons: Phobos & Deimos In Greek, Phobos means “fear” & Deimos means “dread”; they are the sons of Mars, the god of war In Greek, Phobos means “fear” & Deimos means “dread”; they are the sons of Mars, the god of war These moons are heavily cratered & probably captured objects These moons are heavily cratered & probably captured objects

The Moons of Mars Phobos is 27 km (17 mi) wide and completes its orbit of Mars in 8 hours Phobos is 27 km (17 mi) wide and completes its orbit of Mars in 8 hours Deimos, at 14 km (9 mi), is one of the smallest moons in the Solar System Deimos, at 14 km (9 mi), is one of the smallest moons in the Solar System Phobos Deimos

The Moons of Jupiter Jupiter has 63 moons & thousands of small objects orbiting it Jupiter has 63 moons & thousands of small objects orbiting it Scientists refer to it as a “mini Solar System” Scientists refer to it as a “mini Solar System” Jupiter with its moon, Io

The Moons of Jupiter In 1610, Galileo was the first person to discover the largest moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa In 1610, Galileo was the first person to discover the largest moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa Since then, several spacecraft have examined these “Galilean Satellites” closely Since then, several spacecraft have examined these “Galilean Satellites” closely Ganymede Callisto Io Europa

The Moons of Saturn Saturn has 56 moons Saturn has 56 moons The Cassini spacecraft discovered 12 new moons orbiting the planet in 2005 alone The Cassini spacecraft discovered 12 new moons orbiting the planet in 2005 alone Saturn Cassini spacecraft

The Moons of Saturn Saturn’s moons vary greatly in size & shape Saturn’s moons vary greatly in size & shape Titan, the largest moon, contains ingredients that one day may nurture life! Titan, the largest moon, contains ingredients that one day may nurture life!

The Moons of Uranus Uranus has 27 moons Uranus has 27 moons Many of them are icy, without an atmosphere or magnetosphere Many of them are icy, without an atmosphere or magnetosphere The rings of Uranus and its many moons

The Moons of Uranus The 5 largest were discovered in the 19 th and 20 th centuries: Titania, Oberon, Umbriel, Ariel & Miranda The 5 largest were discovered in the 19 th and 20 th centuries: Titania, Oberon, Umbriel, Ariel & Miranda Titania Oberon Umbriel Ariel Miranda (images not to scale)

The Moons of Neptune Neptune has 13 moons, 3 of which were discovered in 2002, 2 more in 2003 Neptune has 13 moons, 3 of which were discovered in 2002, 2 more in 2003 In 1989, Voyager 2 discovered 6 moons not visible from Earth In 1989, Voyager 2 discovered 6 moons not visible from Earth All of Neptune’s moons are composed of rock & ice, but little else is known about them

The Moons of Neptune Neptune has 3 larger moons: Triton, Nereid & Proteus Neptune has 3 larger moons: Triton, Nereid & Proteus Triton is the only moon in the solar system with a retrograde orbit, and 1 of 3 with an atmosphere Triton is the only moon in the solar system with a retrograde orbit, and 1 of 3 with an atmosphere Triton Nereid Proteus Images from Voyager 2 in 1989

The Moons of Pluto Pluto has 3 moons: Charon, Nix, and Hydra Pluto has 3 moons: Charon, Nix, and Hydra Charon and Pluto have a mutually synchronous orbit, meaning they always show the same face to each other Charon and Pluto have a mutually synchronous orbit, meaning they always show the same face to each other For the Greeks, Charon was the boatman who carried dead souls to the underworld, ruled by Pluto For the Greeks, Charon was the boatman who carried dead souls to the underworld, ruled by Pluto Pluto Charon

The Moons of Pluto At 1,186 km (737 mi), Charon’s diameter is little more than half of Pluto’s; no other moon in our solar system is so close in size to its planet At 1,186 km (737 mi), Charon’s diameter is little more than half of Pluto’s; no other moon in our solar system is so close in size to its planet Charon appears to be covered by water ice, differing from Pluto’s surface of frozen nitrogen, methane & carbon dioxide Charon appears to be covered by water ice, differing from Pluto’s surface of frozen nitrogen, methane & carbon dioxide Hubble Space Telescope image of Pluto (left) & Charon

The Moons of Pluto In November 2005, astronomers discovered two new moons of Pluto: Nix and Hydra. Both moons are much farther away from Pluto than Charon, and many times smaller. In November 2005, astronomers discovered two new moons of Pluto: Nix and Hydra. Both moons are much farther away from Pluto than Charon, and many times smaller. Nix is named after the Greek goddess of night, Charon’s mother. Hydra is a beast that guarded Pluto’s underworld. Nix is named after the Greek goddess of night, Charon’s mother. Hydra is a beast that guarded Pluto’s underworld.

Moons of Our Solar System Earth is not the only planet with a moon. At least 159 moons with craters, volcanoes & other spectacular features exist in our solar system. Which ones are your favorites?