Photo by: NASA

NASA

The Top 5 Weirdest Moons of the Solar System

From the exotic to the just plain odd, our solar system is home to some of the most extreme worlds in the galaxy. But I’m not talking about the planets, I’m talking about their moons. Let’s take a look at the most strange...

March 12, 2021

5. Pan

This innermost moon of Saturn orbits just about 130,000 kilometers away from the ringed giant, and it wasn’t discovered until 1990 when astronomers re-analyzed old Voyager II data. As moons go it isn’t all that big, just 35 kilometers across and 23 kilometers wide – just big enough to hold Manhattan (although the views would be fantastic). It’s also shaped like a dumpling. Or a Pierogi. Or a ravioli. Or whatever filled-pasta-based food you like best.

This image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows how the spacecraft's perspective changed as it passed within 15,300 miles (24,600 kilometers) of Saturn's moon Pan on March 7, 2017. This was Cassini's closest-ever encounter with Pan, improving the level of detail seen on the little moon by a factor of eight over previous observations.

Photo by: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

This image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows how the spacecraft's perspective changed as it passed within 15,300 miles (24,600 kilometers) of Saturn's moon Pan on March 7, 2017. This was Cassini's closest-ever encounter with Pan, improving the level of detail seen on the little moon by a factor of eight over previous observations.

Astronomers think that Pan got its curious shape due to its position within a gap of Saturn’s rings. Pan, like its mythological name suggests, “shepherds” ring material, creating a gap and keeping the rest of the ring in line. In the process, it’s managed to collect for itself a little belt of ices.

And it looks dang tasty.

4. Europa

The second moon of Jupiter looks only mildly interesting on the surface. At least it’s not another boring, rocky, crater-infested airless dead world like so many other moons of the solar system, so it has that going for it. Instead, its surface is coated entirely by a shell of thick water ice, cross-crossed with cracks and grooves.

Complex and beautiful patterns adorn the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, as seen in this color image intended to approximate how the satellite might appear to the human eye. The data used to create this view were acquired by NASA's Galileo spacecraft in 1995 and 1998.

Photo by: NASA/JPL/Ted Stryk

NASA/JPL/Ted Stryk

Complex and beautiful patterns adorn the icy surface of Jupiter's moon Europa, as seen in this color image intended to approximate how the satellite might appear to the human eye. The data used to create this view were acquired by NASA's Galileo spacecraft in 1995 and 1998.

But what makes Europa really stand out is that the icy shell is just that: a shell. Under a hundred miles of rock-hard ice sits a vast liquid water ocean, girdling the entire moon, reaching down to a depth of more than 50 kilometers.

Europa is home to more liquid water than the Earth. If there’s a chance for life in the solar system other than our home planet, my money’s on Europa.

3. Charon

Charon is the largest natural satellite of Pluto, and stands on its own as the sixth-largest member of all the objects beyond the orbit of Neptune. And while we can debate all day long whether Pluto is a planet or not, we certainly all agree that Charon is impressive.

Charon in Enhanced Color NASA's New Horizons captured this high-resolution enhanced color view of Charon just before closest approach on July 14, 2015. The image combines blue, red and infrared images taken by the spacecraft’s Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC); the colors are processed to best highlight the variation of surface properties across Charon.

Photo by: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI

Charon in Enhanced Color NASA's New Horizons captured this high-resolution enhanced color view of Charon just before closest approach on July 14, 2015. The image combines blue, red and infrared images taken by the spacecraft’s Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera (MVIC); the colors are processed to best highlight the variation of surface properties across Charon.

Charon is half the diameter (though only 1/8th the mass) of Pluto. It’s so big that it tugs on Pluto to such a degree that the barycenter (a fancy physics term that refers to the balance point between two worlds, like the center of a see-saw) sits outside Pluto itself. So it’s not like Charon orbits Pluto. It’s more like Charon and Pluto orbit a common center. That’s pretty impressive…for a moon.

2. Titan

The largest moon of Saturn is shrouded in a thick, hazy atmosphere – an atmosphere even thicker than Earth’s. And underneath those hazy skies we find a rich system of lakes, rivers, streams, and more.

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft snapped this image on Sept. 11, 2011 and it was released on December 22, 2011.

Photo by: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft snapped this image on Sept. 11, 2011 and it was released on December 22, 2011.

But not of water, but liquid methane.

At a temperature of less than 200 degrees below zero, it’s far too cold for water to stay liquid out here. But methane is totally happy, and Titan is the only world in the solar system, other than our dear old Earth, to host liquids of any kind on its surface.

1. The Moon

That’s right: the Moon. Our Moon. Besides the only moon in the solar system to be visited by humans, the Moon really stands out in the solar system.

The near side of Earth's Moon, as seen using data from cameras aboard NASA's robotic Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.

Photo by: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

The near side of Earth's Moon, as seen using data from cameras aboard NASA's robotic Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft.

Check this out. Mercury? No moons. Venus? No moons. Mars? Technically two moons, but those are really just captured asteroids and don’t count.

Earth is the only inner rocky planet to host a moon, and it’s a big one. Besides the Pluto-Charon system, it’s the largest moon in proportion to its host planet. Scientists think that we got our moon when a giant Mars-sized planet crashed into the Earth when it was still forming, sending chunks of that collision into orbit.

Besides its fascinating history, the Moon is also responsible for half the tides on the Earth, helping to keep our axial tilt (and seasons) stable, and allowing us to get those spectacular solar eclipses. Plus, it’s a great place to visit.

Paul M. Sutter

Paul M. Sutter is an astrophysicist at Stony Brook University and the Flatiron Institute, host of Ask a Spaceman and Space Radio, and author of How to Die in Space.

Next Up

Watch the Super Flower Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse

Those located in the Americas, Europe, or Africa can see this rare total lunar eclipse during the night of May 15, 2022.

NASA's New Rocket is Taller than the Statue of Liberty

The massive space launch system was unveiled last week. Following successful completion of upcoming simulation tests, NASA will set a date for the first of the Artemis II lunar missions.

What We Learn from the Lunar Surface

Sure, the Moon is cool to look at, and fun to think about it. And it literally affects us here on the Earth: without the Moon, we’d be missing half our tides, and likely our planet’s rotation wouldn’t be as stable as it is.

NASA Launches CAPSTONE to Test Experimental Orbit Around the Moon

In preparation for future missions, NASA is testing a never-been-flown-before orbit around the Moon in search of the most efficient deep space route for space travel.

Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth

A rare lunar crystal found on the near side of the moon is giving scientists hope of providing limitless power for the world – forever.

Curiosity Daily Podcast: First Moon Beyond Our Solar System Discovery, Jacuzzi of Despair, and The Winner Effect

Learn about how astronomers may have just discovered the first moon beyond our solar system; why the “jacuzzi of despair” kills everything that enters it; and why the winner effect says one win leads to even more wins.

An Out-of-Control Rocket is about the Hit the Moon

Watch out, moon! On March 4 at precisely 7:25 am ET, a piece of rocket junk will slam into the moon.

South Korea Joins Space Race by Sending its First Spacecraft to the Moon

South Korea is launching its first lunar probe to the moon on August 4th. The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) or Danuri, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is being launched to study moon carters, magnetic fields, and surface weathering.

What Comes After the Moon and Mars?

Space hotels may be in our future.

A Guide to this August’s Best Astronomy Attractions

Learn more about the exciting things happening in the night sky this month! From the rings of Saturn to the most popular meteor shower of the year, August 2022 has us stargazing all month.

Related To: