Earlier this week, Saturn gained a whopping 128 new official moons, as the International Astronomical Union recognised discoveries from a team of astronomers led by Edward Ashton at the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. The sixth planet from the Sun now has a grand total of 274 moons, the most of any planet in the Solar System.

Saturn has cemented its status as the planet with the most moons, leaving Jupiter trailing behind. Astronomers have confirmed the discovery of 128 additional moons orbiting Saturn, bringing its total to an astonishing 274.

Faint signatures detected by the Canada France Hawaii Telescope have revealed 128 new moons around Saturn, making it the indisputable frontrunner for having the most moons in our solar system.

The sheer number of objects suggests scientists will soon have to grapple with what counts as a moon versus what’s just a large rock

Even before the recently announced moons, Saturn had more than anyone could reasonably keep track of. Now, astronomers have announced the confirmation of 128 new moons around Saturn, bringing its total to 274, more moons than those around all the other planets in the solar system combined.

Saturn just solidified its title as ‘moon king’ with an updated tally of 274 satellites orbiting the gas giant. The record-breaking statistic puts Saturn way ahead of its moon-bearing competitors, as now the ringed planet is officially orbited by almost twice as many moons as all other planets in the solar system combined.

The number of known moons in our Solar System has been rising for centuries, but astronomers say it has probably peaked – for now.