Are There Really 170 Named Moons In Our Solar System?

There are a total of 171 moons, also known as natural satellites, orbiting the planets within our solar system. To break this down further, Earth has 1 moon, Mars has 2, Jupiter boasts an impressive 66, Saturn follows with 62, Uranus has 27, and Neptune possesses 13 moons. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Pluto, classified as a dwarf planet, also has its own moons. As of August 24, 2023, here is a list of some of the major planetary moons, including those orbiting Pluto.

How many named moons are there? The count of named moons varies among different indigenous tribes, with some attributing 12 while others acknowledge 13 full moons in a year. These unique names, associated with each full moon, were later embraced by Colonial Americans and have since become ingrained in popular culture. Below, you can explore several alternatives to these names and discover the most widely recognized names for each month’s full moon.

Did you know that our expansive Solar System boasts more than 200 moons? These celestial bodies gracefully encircle nearly every planet, with the notable exceptions being Mercury and Venus. Moons exhibit remarkable diversity, encompassing a wide spectrum of sizes, shapes, and environmental conditions. As of June 28, 2022, this intriguing facet of our cosmic neighborhood continues to captivate astronomers and space enthusiasts alike.