exosatellite
/ˌɛk.soʊˈsæt.əl.aɪt/
Definition
A natural or artificial object that orbits a celestial body located outside of our own solar system.
Etymology
The word is a compound of the prefix 'exo-' (from Greek 'exō', meaning 'outside') and 'satellite' (from Latin 'satelles', meaning 'attendant'). It was formed in modern English to describe celestial bodies discovered outside the bounds of the solar system.
In the news
In the article, the term is used to describe a massive, moon-like object orbiting a brown dwarf, highlighting the complexity of classifying bodies in systems beyond our own. It matters because it challenges traditional astronomical categories when the size and behavior of the object don't fit standard definitions of 'planet' or 'moon.'
‘Super weird’ object may be space’s first confirmed exomoon
Read the full article ↗Popular Science