Retrograde Moons Defy Expectations

Some moons orbit backward.

Retrograde moons revolve opposite to their planet’s rotation, often captured objects from elsewhere in the solar system.

Why This Matters

They provide clues to planetary capture events and early solar system dynamics.

It also challenges simplistic formation theories of moons.

Did You Know?

Neptune’s moon Triton has a retrograde orbit and is likely a captured Kuiper Belt object.

Source

[NASA, nasa.gov]

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