Roqoo Depot

Pluto Gets A New Moon

This week for science Thursday it brings me great pleasure to report that the planet Pluto got a new moon this week. Or rather The “dwarf planet” Pluto. For that matter, it was a moon that was always there but we, the evolved primates of planet Earth, have just discovered it.

"I said sit Cerberus! Bad dog!"

Currently designated as “P4” by NASA, the name “Cerberus” is the favorite in the naming pool for the moment. Cerberus was the three headed, snarling, drooling, vicious hound that guarded the entrance to Hell in Greek mythology. Perhaps it is an appropriate name considering  the harshness of the conditions in that little corner of our solar system. While any part of the solar system that isn’t on the surface of the Earth may not be very conducive to human existence, the extreme cold temperatures of Pluto and it’s system are easily some of the harshest possible.

P4 is only between 8 and 21 miles in diameter. It was discovered on July 3RD after NASA technicians assigned to the Hubble Space Telescope noticed a faint dot on a long exposure photo of the Pluto system and decided to have a closer look. At that size it is the smallest of Pluto’s known moons, of which there are now four total.

The other three moons are Charon (Charon or Kharon is the ferryman of Hades in Greek mythology who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron), Hydra (an ancient Greek nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast that possessed many heads), and Nix (the Greek goddess of darkness).  All seemingly appropriate names as Pluto was actually the Roman god of the underworld.

The Hubble image of Cerberus and the Pluto system.

So welcome Cerberus, to our galactic community. We know you’ve been here some time now but shyly waited until now to be known. Perhaps one day we’ll swing by and say hello in person. Until then, try to stay warm and keep your kibble dry.

by Revmacd For Roqoo Depot – Where Science Meets Science Fiction