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Here's Your Chance to Name 5 Jupiter Moons! (No Moon McMoonfaces, Please)

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Jupiter outer moons orbits diagram
A diagram shows the five recently-discovered moons of Jupiter that scientists need to name. (Image credit: Roberto Molar Candanosa/Carnegie Institution for Science)

Last summer, scientists announced they had discovered a dozen new moons orbiting Jupiter. But now comes the hard part: naming them.

The researchers announced that they want some help with that task, asking astronomy buffs to submit their name suggestions for five of the new discoveries. If you're up to the challenge, here's what's involved.

First, be aware that it's not a free-for-all. The names need to meet certain constraints in order to be approved by the International Astronomical Union, which oversees all names for objects in space and features on their surfaces.

But moon names in the Jovian system are also structured based on the direction in which they orbit the gas giant. Two of the new moons orbit in the same direction as the planet rotates, which requires a name that ends in -a; the other three travel in the opposite direction and will be given names that end in -e.

There are other rules as well: For example, names can't be too similar to ones already in use for moons or asteroids, and they can't be offensive to any culture.

Once you've settled on the names you'd like to nominate, it's time to take to Twitter to explain your choice in a single tweet to @JupiterLunacy tagged #NameJupitersMoons. The deadline for submissions is April 15.

Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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Meghan Bartels
Space.com Senior Writer

Meghan is a senior writer at Space.com and has more than five years' experience as a science journalist based in New York City. She joined Space.com in July 2018, with previous writing published in outlets including Newsweek and Audubon. Meghan earned an MA in science journalism from New York University and a BA in classics from Georgetown University, and in her free time she enjoys reading and visiting museums. Follow her on Twitter at @meghanbartels.