James Webb Telescope Discovers 29th Uranus Moon

Astronomers have discovered a new, small moon orbiting Uranus, increasing the total number of known moons around the planet to 29. This tiny satellite, designated S/2025 U 1, measures about six miles (10 kilometers) across and orbits roughly 35,000 miles from Uranus' center with a near-circular trajectory, suggesting it formed near its current location. The discovery was made using 10 long-exposure images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Camera taken in February 2025, and its faintness and small size explain why it was missed by Voyager 2's 1986 flyby. Uranus is unique in having many small inner moons with complex interactions among themselves and the planet’s rings, hinting at a chaotic evolutionary history. The new moon, currently unnamed, follows the tradition of Uranian moons being named after Shakespearean or Alexander Pope characters, with official naming pending approval by the International Astronomical Union. Researchers believe there may still be more undiscovered moons, especially those influencing Uranus' ring system, highlighting the planet’s dynamic and intricate satellite environment.