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10/12/2019

Topic Reading-Vol.2740-10/12/2019

Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Saturn overtakes Jupiter as planet with most moons
Planets, dwarf planets and asteroids in our solar system orbit the Sun. There are eight planets and five officially recognized dwarf planets, including Pluto. They are orbited by moons, or natural satellites, a few of which have atmosphere and even water under the surface.
Do you have any idea how many such natural satellites have been discovered in our solar system? 214 in total, four of which are larger than our moon in radius.
Recently, US researchers found 20 more natural satellites orbiting Saturn, which made the total number of moons around the planet to 82, three more than what Jupiter has. Interestingly, most of those newly found moons orbit the ringed planet backward, or in a retrograde direction, while the other three do in a prograde direction, the same direction as Saturn rotates. Each takes two or more years to complete its orbit.
Scientists think there are more moons waiting to be found. In the meantime, they are running a contest to give these newly discovered moons names.
Are you interested to be a godfather of the distant moons around Saturn?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about the moons of our solar system.

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