New Moon Discovered Orbiting Uranus by James Webb Space Telescope

Washington, D.C. – August 20, 2025 – In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA announced today that ⁤the⁤ James Webb Space Telescope has identified a previously unkown moon orbiting the ‍planet Uranus. The finding, revealed on Tuesday,‌ significantly expands our understanding of the Uranian system and highlights the telescope’s unparalleled capabilities.

A Tiny⁤ Moon Revealed

The newly discovered moon ⁤is estimated to measure approximately 10 kilometers in diameter. ‌Scientists calculated its volume at 523.6 cubic kilometers, equivalent to 523.6 trillion liters of water. Remarkably, this volume is double that of Lake Toba, a massive volcanic lake⁢ located in North Sumatra, Indonesia, which holds roughly 240 cubic kilometers of water.

The⁢ moon’s existence ⁤was confirmed through infrared imaging captured by ​the Webb telescope during observations conducted in Febuary. ⁤Its diminutive size and faint reflectivity have allowed⁣ it to evade detection for ⁢decades, even eluding the ⁣Voyager 2 spacecraft during its flyby of Uranus approximately ⁢40 years ago.

Did You Know? Uranus already boasts a collection of 28⁤ known‌ moons, all named ​after characters from the works‌ of ‌William​ Shakespeare and Alexander ​Pope.

Expanding the Uranian Family

With this‌ latest addition, Uranus now has a⁤ total of 29 confirmed moons. The new moon has‌ not yet received an official name.⁢ The​ discovery suggests the possibility of even more undiscovered satellites orbiting the ice giant.

“There’s a possibility ⁤that there are more‍ out there,we just need to keep‌ looking,” stated Matthew ‍Tiscareno,a planetary‌ scientist at the SETI Institute involved in the research.This sentiment underscores the‍ ongoing exploration‌ and potential⁤ for further ‌discoveries within‌ our solar system.

Key Facts⁢ About the New Uranian Moon

The discovery of this small moon provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution ‌of the Uranian system. Understanding ​the composition and orbits‌ of these moons can ‍help scientists piece together the history of the planet and its surrounding habitat. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope continues to revolutionize our understanding of​ the cosmos.

Pro Tip: The James Webb Space Telescope utilizes infrared technology, ⁢allowing it to⁢ penetrate dust clouds and observe⁤ objects that are invisible to conventional optical telescopes.

What implications ⁣might this discovery have ⁣for future missions to⁢ Uranus? And how will continued observations refine our understanding of‌ the planet’s complex moon system?

We hope you enjoyed this report on the latest discovery in our solar system. Share this article with your friends ‌and family, and join the conversation in the comments below! Don’t ⁤forget to⁤ subscribe to⁢ our newsletter for more exciting space news.