Sunday, March 17, 2013

More Moons For Pluto?

So far, astronomers have found five moons orbiting Pluto, including one nearly as big as Pluto itself.  A recent study using computer simulations, however, suggests ten or more additional tiny moons may in fact be orbiting Pluto.

The study is of more than academic interest.  NASA's New Horizons probe is on its way to Pluto, to arrive in July, 2015.  A swarm of moons unaccounted for in the mission flight plan could pose dangers to the probe.

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