The moons, formally recognized by the International Astronomical Union, are small, irregularly shaped objects detected using the “shift and stack” technique.

Scientists believe they are remnants of larger celestial bodies shattered by collisions within the last 100 million years.

The discovery sheds light on the early solar system’s chaotic history and could help explain the origins of Saturn’s rings. Meanwhile, ESA’s Hera spacecraft will conduct a close flyby of Mars’s moon Deimos.

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[–] Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

I believe they're called moonlets. They're tiny moons, rocks that would be large enough to be called asteroids, but floating around in the rings.

[–] CosmicCleric@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

moonlets