Nasa's Hubble telescope discovers new Neptune moon

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  1. truebluefan

    truebluefan Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    Voyager failed to spot the tiny moon during its 1989 fly-pass

    Designated S/2004 N 1, this is the 14th known moon to circle the giant planet.

    It also appears to be the smallest moon in the Neptunian system, measuring just 20 km (12 miles) across, completing one revolution around Neptune every 23 hours.

    US astronomer Mark Showalter spotted the tiny dot while studying segments of rings around Neptune.

    Nasa said the moon was roughly 100 million times dimmer than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.

    It is so small that the Voyager spacecraft failed to spot it in 1989 when it passed close by Neptune and surveyed the planet's system of moons and rings.

    Read more http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23318301
     

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