A decade ago, astronomers only knew about 62 moons orbiting Saturn. Fast forward to today, and the ringed planet now boasts a whopping 274 official satellites. This number surpasses all other planets in our solar system, making it quite a task for most people to keep track of them all. Edward Ashton, an astronomer who has had a hand in discovering 192 of these moons, is no exception. Well, he thinks it’s 192, but don’t quote him on that number—he did some quick mental math to figure it out.
Who is Edward Ashton and where is he now?
Edward Ashton, currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics in Taiwan, stumbled into the world of hunting for Saturn’s moons back in 2018. His academic adviser at the time suggested the project for his Ph.D. dissertation at the University of British Columbia. Since then, Ashton and his colleagues have announced the discovery of a whopping 128 new Saturnian satellites in March.
How are these moons found?
To detect these tiny moons, astronomers utilize a technique called shifting and stacking. By taking 44 sequential images of the same area of the sky over a three-hour period, they can track the movement of the moons relative to the stars at a rate similar to Saturn. By shifting the images relative to each other at various rates near that of Saturn, astronomers can identify the moons as they coalesce into dots. Tracking these objects over months and years is essential to confirm that they are indeed in orbit around the planet.
Why is it challenging to find moons around other planets?
While the technique used to find Saturn’s moons can be applied to other planets like Jupiter, the process becomes more time-consuming due to the larger sky area where moons can exist. Other planets like Uranus and Neptune have smaller areas where moons can be found, making the search less labor-intensive. However, with advancements in technology and the launch of telescopes like the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, the hunt for more moons around other planets may become more feasible in the future.
Are there more moons waiting to be discovered?
While there are likely more moons around Saturn waiting to be confirmed, the method of shifting and stacking images can only go so far. With the possibility of using larger telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope, fainter moons may be detected, leading to the discovery of more satellites. The distribution of these moons’ orbits can provide insights into the history of the system, such as collisions that may have produced a large number of fragments.
Do astronomers get to name the new moons?
Astronomers who discover new moons generally have the right to name them once their orbits are accurately determined. While some moons may be linked back to previous observations and given numbers, the rest are up for naming by the discoverers. However, this process takes time, as the moons are initially assigned numbers before receiving official names. As Ashton takes a break from moon-hunting to focus on other projects, the mysteries of trans-Neptunian objects and their relation to planet formation await further exploration.
