With the help of the James Webb space telescope, the astronomer from SWRI discovered an previously unknown satellite of Uranus. Now the planet has 29 moon. Observations took place on February 2, 2025 using the NIRCAM infrared camera.
The new satellite, temporarily received the name S/2025 U1, has a diameter of only about 10 kilometers. That is why the Voyager-2 station, flying past Uranus almost 40 years ago, could not notice him. According to the researchers, he turned out to be the smallest and smallest of all the famous internal satellites of the planet. This suggests that Uranus may have even more hidden moon.
The new moon moves in almost circular orbit at a distance of about 56 thousand kilometers from the center of Uranus. It is located between the orbits of the satellites of Ophelia and Bianka. Scientists believe that the satellite most likely formed exactly where it is now, and did not “come” from the outside.
All the moons of Uranus are traditionally called the names of the characters of Shakespeare and Alexander POUP. The official name for the new facility will be approved by the International Astronomical Union.
