Saturn Surpasses Jupiter As Planet With Most Moons

A team of astronomers led by Scott S. Sheppard has discovered a new piece to the space puzzle after it was found that as many as 20 moons that were previously unknown to exist have been discovered revolving around Saturn. The ringed planet was earlier thought to have 62 moons.

Saturn's total moons now stand at a total of 82. The finding was announced by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center.

Thanks to @CarnegiePlanets' Scott Sheppard discovering 20 new moons of Saturn, it has surpassed Jupiter for the most moons in our Solar System! (And you can help name them!) https://t.co/SBjXdZZ7qI pic.twitter.com/n1Fln9OmWs

— Carnegie Science (@carnegiescience) October 7, 2019

With the discovery of 20 new moons, it has now surpassed its neighbouring planet, Jupiter, which earlier boasted of 79 satellites revolving around it.

"It was fun to find that Saturn is the true moon king," said astronomer Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science.

"Using some of the largest telescopes in the world, we are now completing the inventory of small moons around the giant planets," he Sheppard.

"They play a crucial role in helping us determine how our solar system's planets formed and evolved," Sheppard continued.

Scientists hope a closer look at the assortment of space rocks could reveal what the solar system was like when Saturn first formed. But they’re also having some fun with the discovery by organizing a contest to name the new moons.