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Pluto Moons

Pluto's entire moon system is believed to have formed by a collision between the dwarf planet and another Kuiper Belt Object early in the history of the solar system. The smashup flung material that coalesced into the family of satellites observed around Pluto. "The moons form a series of neatly nested orbits, a bit like Russian dolls," said Mark Showalter of the SETI Institute. More ›

Related News

New Horizons continues to shed light on the mysterious planets and smaller bodies of the outer solar system.

New Horizons Team Discusses Discoveries from the Kuiper Belt

New Horizons Team Discusses Discoveries from the Kuiper Belt

Research reveals a new explanation for how the icy shell of Jupiter’s moon Europa rotates at a different rate than its interior.

Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa's Icy Crust

Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa's Icy Crust

From deep below the soil at Earth’s polar regions to Pluto’s frozen heart, ice exists all over the solar system...and beyond.

Frozen: Ice on Earth and Well Beyond

Frozen: Ice on Earth and Well Beyond

NASA-funded scientists have discovered shaded locations within pits on the Moon that always hover around a comfortable 63 F.

NASA's LRO Finds Lunar Pits Harbor Comfortable Temperatures

NASA's LRO Finds Lunar Pits Harbor Comfortable Temperatures

The path through the solar system is a rocky road. Asteroids, comets, Kuiper Belt Objects—all kinds of small bodies of rock, metal and ice are in constant motion as they orbit the Sun. But what’s the difference between them? Why do these miniature worlds fascinate space explorers so much?

10 Things: What's That Space Rock?

10 Things: What's That Space Rock?

NASA has extended the planetary science missions of eight of its spacecraft due to their scientific productivity and potential to deepen our knowledge.

Exploration Extended for 8 Planetary Science Missions

Exploration Extended for 8 Planetary Science Missions

This February’s calendar has lots of twos. There was 02-02-2022 and now 02-22-2022 – which some people are calling “Twosday.”

10 Things in Space That Come in Twos

10 Things in Space That Come in Twos

Finding plumes at Europa is an exciting prospect, but scientists warn it’ll be tricky, even from up close.

Are Water Plumes Spraying from Europa? NASA's Europa Clipper is on the Case

Are Water Plumes Spraying from Europa? NASA's Europa Clipper is on the Case

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson laid out the path forward for early Artemis missions that will pave the way for lunar surface missions.

NASA Outlines Challenges, Progress for Artemis Moon Missions

NASA Outlines Challenges, Progress for Artemis Moon Missions

Researchers have expanded the Pluto photo album to include a portion of the dwarf planet's landscape they're calling the “dark side.”

Using "Charon-light," Researchers Image Pluto's Dark Side in Faint Moonlight

Using "Charon-light," Researchers Image Pluto's Dark Side in Faint Moonlight

The lives and accomplishments of both women aviation pioneers have now been honored with the naming of landmarks on Pluto.

Pluto Landmarks Named for Aviation Pioneers Sally Ride and Bessie Coleman

Pluto Landmarks Named for Aviation Pioneers Sally Ride and Bessie Coleman

JPL's lucky peanuts are an unofficial tradition at big mission events.

What Are JPL's Lucky Peanuts?

What Are JPL's Lucky Peanuts?

In 2023, NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will land near the western edge of the Nobile Crater at the Moon’s South Pole.

NASA's Artemis Rover to Land Near Nobile Region of Moon's South Pole

NASA's Artemis Rover to Land Near Nobile Region of Moon's South Pole

The rover will be delivered to the Moon's surface in late 2023. VIPER is the first resource-mapping mission on the surface of another celestial body.

NASA to Announce Landing Site for Artemis Lunar Robotic Rover

NASA to Announce Landing Site for Artemis Lunar Robotic Rover

The Next Full Moon is the Harvest Moon, the Fruit Moon, the Barley Moon, and the Corn Moon.

September 2021: The Next Full Moon is the Harvest Moon; the Fruit or Barley Moon

September 2021: The Next Full Moon is the Harvest Moon; the Fruit or Barley Moon

The shadows cast by the roughness of the Moon’s surface create small cold spots for water ice to accumulate even during the harsh lunar daytime.

NASA Study Highlights Importance of Surface Shadows in Moon Water Puzzle

NASA Study Highlights Importance of Surface Shadows in Moon Water Puzzle

For the first time, astronomers have uncovered evidence of water vapor in the atmosphere of Jupiter's moon Ganymede.

Hubble Finds First Evidence of Water Vapor at Jupiter's Moon Ganymede

Hubble Finds First Evidence of Water Vapor at Jupiter's Moon Ganymede

NASA has selected SpaceX to provide launch services for Earth’s first mission to conduct detailed investigations of Jupiter's moon Europa.

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Europa Clipper Mission

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Europa Clipper Mission

On April 17 New Horizons will reach a rare milepost – 50 astronomical units from the Sun or 50 times farther from the Sun than Earth is.

NASA's New Horizons Reaches a Rare Space Milestone

NASA's New Horizons Reaches a Rare Space Milestone

A technique for scanning Mars rocks for microscopic fossils is also being developed to hunt for microbes on Enceladus, Titan, and Europa.

Probing for Life in the Icy Crusts of Ocean Worlds

Probing for Life in the Icy Crusts of Ocean Worlds

A proposed mission called Io Volcano Observer (IVO) would visit Jupiter’s moon Io, which is a true volcanic wonderland.

Io Volcano Observer: Following the Heat and Hunting Clues to Planet Evolution

Io Volcano Observer: Following the Heat and Hunting Clues to Planet Evolution

Phobos orbits through a stream of charged atoms and molecules that flow off the atmosphere of Mars, new research shows.

Could Phobos Help Reveal Secrets of the Martian Past?

Could Phobos Help Reveal Secrets of the Martian Past?

NASA’s VIPER will be the first off-world rover to have its brains split in two as it explores the Moon’s surface in search of water ice.

VIPER's Many Brains are Better than One

VIPER's Many Brains are Better than One

For Artemis astronauts traveling to the Moon, two space weather instrument suites, NASA’s HERMES and ESA’s ERSA, will provide an early forecast.

Lunar Gateway Instruments to Improve Forecasting for Artemis Astronauts

Lunar Gateway Instruments to Improve Forecasting for Artemis Astronauts

Plumes of water vapor that may be venting into space from Jupiter's moon Europa could come from within the icy crust itself, according to new research.

Potential Plumes on Europa Could Come From Water in the Crust

Potential Plumes on Europa Could Come From Water in the Crust