Hubble Spots Possible New Moons Around Pluto

OUTER PLANETS

The artist's concept above shows the Pluto system from the surface of one of the candidate moons. The other members of the Pluto system are just above the moon's surface. Pluto is the large disk at center, right. Charon, the system's only confirmed moon, is the smaller disk to the right of Pluto. The other candidate moon is the bright dot on Pluto's far left. Click image for full resolution. Credit: NASA, ESA and G. Bacon (STScI).

Laurel MD (SPX) Nov 01, 2005
The Hubble Space Telescope images above, taken by the Advanced Camera for Surveys, reveal Pluto, its large moon Charon, and the planet's two new candidate satellites.

Between May 15 and May 18, 2005, Charon, and the potential moons, provisionally designated P1 and P2, all appear to rotate counterclockwise around Pluto.

P1 and P2 move less than Charon because they are farther from Pluto, and therefore would be orbiting at slower speeds. P1 and P2 are thousands of times less bright than Pluto and Charon.

The enhanced-color images of Pluto (the brightest object) and Charon (to the right of Pluto) were constructed by combining short exposure images. The images of the new satellites were made from longer exposures. Click image for full resolution.

In the short-exposure image, taken June 11, 2002, the candidate moons cannot be seen. They do, however, appear in the middle and right-hand images. Longer exposure times were used to take these images. Pluto and Charon are overexposed in these images, causing the bright streaks or "blooms" that emerge vertically from them.

The candidate moons are not overexposed because they are thousands of times less bright than Pluto and Charon. In these unprocessed images, various optical artifacts of the Advanced Camera for Surveys system are visible, such as the radial spokes of light caused by the telescope's optics.

OUTER PLANETS

NASA Says Pluto May Have Three Moons Instead Of One

Washington (AFP) Nov 01, 2005
Pluto, the smallest and most distant planet of the solar system, may have three moons instead of just one, according to images NASA said were taken by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.

---------------------------------------------------------
New from Telescopes.com!

It's new. And it's downright terrific!

Celestron's CPC Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope is the scope you've been waiting for! It offers new alignment technology, advanced engineering, and bold new design at a new, low price!

In fact, Celestron's Professional Computerized (CPC) scope with revolutionary SkyAlign Alignment Technology redefines everything that amateur astronomers are looking for. It offers quick and simple alignment, GPS technology, unsurpassed optical quality, ease of use, advanced ergonomics, enhanced computerization and, most important, affordability.

Want to view M-31 tonight? One button takes you there!

Shop for telescopes online at Telescopes.com! today!
------------------------------------------------------------

SUPERPOWERS Hu Says Stronger China Means Peace, Stability Walker's World: Navy's China Diplomacy US Needs Strong Military Presence In Asia: Study Analysis: US - Libya Now Friends	NUKEWARS U.S. Works With China On Nuke Security Hu Has 'Frank' Meeting With Kim But No Date For Next Nuclear Talks No Policy Of Regime Change In Iran: British Foreign Secretary Outside View: Ominously Misguided
MISSILE NEWS Raytheon Radar System Completes Successful Live Fire Flight Tests of AMRAAM and JDAM Missile Trucks Trigger Tunnel Blasts In South Korea Russia Gives S-300S To Belarus For Air Defense Aerojet Wins TOW Bunker Buster Warhead Contract	MISSILE DEFENSE SAIC chases NATO BMD contract US, Japan Boost BMD Partnership BMD Focus: Doubts About Interceptors U.S. Army activates new Missile Defense Command
AEROSPACE Manufacturing Academy - Big Boost for Aerospace New Processor Makes Strike Eagle More Lethal Italian Defense Minister High On Eurofighter Pentagon Announces Possible Pilot Training Contract With Taiwan	UAV NEWS Elbit Systems' Part Of The Watchkeeper Program Is Underway Alion To Enhance Helicopter And UAV Technologies High-Tech Micro Air Vehicle Will Battle With Soldiers Predator's Success Ups Procurement And Development
IRAQ WARS Who Holds War Power In The U.S.? Despite Iraq, US Military Suppliers Face Earnings Pressure Outside View: Iraq's Terror Gangs Outside View: Russian Eye On Plamegate	MILTECH Anteon Awarded $26.9M Contract from U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Command Raytheon Trials BTID Devices Non-Lethal Laser Weapon Halts Aggressors Walker's World: Asia's New Naval Map

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement