Planets and Moons ID: 12223

Hubble Discovers Moon Orbiting Dwarf Planet Makemake

Released on April 26, 2016

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a moon orbiting dwarf planet Makemake -- the third largest known object past the orbit of Neptune, about two thirds the size of Pluto. Further observations of this moon may allow astronomers to calculate Makemake's mass, which will give them a better idea of its density and thus its bulk composition. The Hubble Space Telescope has been instrumental in studying our outer solar system; it also discovered four of the five moons orbiting Pluto.

Credits

Katrina Jackson (USRA): Lead Producer
Katrina Jackson (USRA): Editor
Katrina Jackson (USRA): Narrator
Alex Parker (Southwest Research Institute): Scientist
Marc Buie (Southwest Research Institute): Scientist

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center