New Jupiter and Saturn Satellites Reveal New Moon Dynamical Families

Abstract

Abstract Tens of new moons around both Jupiter and Saturn have been announced on Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPECs) in late 2022 and early 2023. Jupiter now has 95 and Saturn 146 confirmed moons. Many smaller and fainter moons have also been detected at these planets but not yet confirmed through MPECs. These discoveries nearly complete the small moon population of Jupiter to about 2 km and Saturn to about 3 km and show new dynamical satellite families. The once lone Carpo is now joined by S/2018 J4, making it a group of two small prograde moons around Jupiter. The Inuit prograde family around Saturn appears to be 3 distinct groupings. S/2004 S24 seems to be a unique distant small Saturn prograde moon, as could be S/2006 S12 and S/2019 S6. S/2006 S20 might be the first found member of a compact Phoebe Saturn moon family.