New Feature to the GSC
GSC Editorial:
*Lately, many more moons have been discovered within the planets of our solar system, mostly in the outer gas giants. As telescopes and radio detection equipment become more sophisticated, we find ourselves discovering smaller and smaller bodies in orbit around these planets- but at what point do we define a moon? The two newest moons of Uranus were only 10-12 kilometers across (not perfectly spherical). This of course raises the old debate about planets vs. moons and size thereof. The planet in the crosshairs of course, is Pluto. Consider:
Earth is 12,800 km in diameter, it's moon 3,500.
Mercury has a diameter of 4,900
Venus 12,100 km
Mars 6,800 km
Jupiter 143,000 km
Saturn 121,000 km
Uranus 51,000
Neptune 49,400
but Pluto is only 2,300 km in diameter.
How small will satellites continue to be labeled "moons," when their size is only comparable to a large city?
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