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Amid the debate over whether Pluto is big enough to be called a planet, Hubble Space Telescope astronomers said Monday that they've spotted two previously unknown moons there.
Until now, Charon was Pluto's only known moon. The new moons surfaced in three days of Hubble observations in May.
"This is a whole new chapter in the Pluto story," said discovery team co-leader Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. The moons, which don't yet have formal names, also were spotted when Hubble scientists reviewed 2002 Pluto observations made by Lowell Observatory astronomer Marc Buie.
Pluto has been caught up in debate over its status as a planet in recent months before an International Astronomical Union committee. Its detractors say it's too small and the discovery of more moons won't affect its status, said Stern, who is on the committee. Mercury and Venus have no moons.
Until now, Charon was Pluto's only known moon. The new moons surfaced in three days of Hubble observations in May.
"This is a whole new chapter in the Pluto story," said discovery team co-leader Alan Stern of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo. The moons, which don't yet have formal names, also were spotted when Hubble scientists reviewed 2002 Pluto observations made by Lowell Observatory astronomer Marc Buie.
Pluto has been caught up in debate over its status as a planet in recent months before an International Astronomical Union committee. Its detractors say it's too small and the discovery of more moons won't affect its status, said Stern, who is on the committee. Mercury and Venus have no moons.
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