A hypothetical celestial body, smaller than a typical moon, that orbits a moon. The concept of a submoon, or moonlet, is used in astrophysics and astronomy to describe a secondary satellite within a moon's gravitational influence, especially in relation to exoplanets with their own planetary systems and satellites. These formations would be incredibly small, with the gravitational forces being a balancing act between the moon, the planet, and potentially the star. The existence of submoons is theoretical, and no definitive evidence exists for their presence in our solar system. They are intriguing subjects for orbital dynamics research and add complexity to models of planetary and satellite formation.
Submoon meaning with examples
- The discovery of exoplanets has fueled speculation about submoons. If such a planet has a large moon, could it possibly have its own, even smaller, satellite in a stable orbit? Scientists use computer simulations to assess scenarios where this could be possible, considering gravitational tugs from multiple bodies.
- Studies on the stability of ring systems around planets sometimes touch on the conditions under which submoons might form or persist. Tiny particles in a ring could, under specific circumstances, accrete and form a small moonlet, potentially giving rise to a submoon system, making its formation, and destruction.
- Astronomers are actively searching for evidence of submoons in exoplanetary systems, where the extreme distances make detection challenging. Sophisticated observing techniques, like transit photometry that measures minute changes in light levels, are being adapted to identify potential indicators of their presence.
- The Roche limit, the distance within which a celestial body held together only by its own gravity will disintegrate due to a second celestial body's tidal forces, plays a crucial role in the study of submoons, where the satellite would either have to stay together, or fall apart
- Models of planetary formation, involving protoplanetary disks around young stars, are being extended to include the possibility of submoon formation in the environments of the moons and planets in their systems. Submoons may affect a planets magnetic field.