12 New Jovian Moons Have Been Found

Jupiter is a gas giant as well as the largest planet in our local solar system. The term “Jovian” is used to classify all the gas giants, but it can translate simply to “of Jupiter” or “similar to Jupiter.” Jupiter then is sort of the poster boy of the Jovian planets. In addition to being considered the oldest planet in the system, it has a mass 1000 times that of the Earth.

With a mass so great, Jupiter has a strong gravitational pull on its surrounding objects. Thus, it has accumulated quite a few moons. Recently, the number of these moons was found to be larger than scientists had previously known.

A dozen (exactly) new moons were discovered, making the current count of Jupiter’s known moons a total of 79. The size of each newly-found lunar body varies anywhere from about one to three miles across.

A group of astronomers in Chile were looking for Planet X, a giant hypothetical body believed to be in an orbit around the Sun somewhere beyond Pluto. (Pluto had actually been described as Planet X in earlier years.)

During their quest for the mysterious body, the scientists were examining an area which Jupiter crossed. As a result, the team was able to search for both Planet X and any undiscovered satellites orbiting the gas giant.

Valetudo is among the twelve newcomers, and it takes its name after the pagan Roman goddess of health and cleanliness. (Hygieia is her Greek equivalent.) In the realm of mythology, Valetudo was actually a relative of Jupiter himself. The moon named after her is somewhat of an oddity as its orbit takes it in the opposite direction of the neighboring Jovian moons. Valetudo remains the only new moon of Jupiter to be given a name as of yet.

Editor’s Note: Originally published on OIAI’s site here.