Discovery of moons

The discovery of moons began with ancient astronomers observing celestial bodies. Galileo Galilei made a significant breakthrough in 1610 by using a telescope to discover Jupiter's four largest moons, known as the Galilean moons. This was pivotal as it supported the heliocentric model of the solar system. As telescope technology improved, more moons were identified around other planets, particularly in our solar system. Today, spacecraft missions and advanced telescopes continue to discover and study moons, revealing diverse environments and geological features, enhancing our understanding of planetary systems beyond Earth.