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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Science
Shivali Best

Scientists need YOUR help to name Jupiter's new moons - but there’s a catch

Last year, scientists from the Carnegie Institute for Science announced that they’d discovered 12 new moons orbiting Jupiter.

The discovery brings Jupiter’s total number of known moons to 79 - the most of any planet in our solar system!

Now, the scientists are calling on the public to help name five of the new moons.

However, before you jump in with the obvious ‘Moony McMoonface’, there are some pretty strict rules for the names.

Jupiter's new moons (Carnegie Science)

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The contest rules state: “Jupiter Moons must be named after characters from Roman or Greek mythology who were either descendants or lovers of the god known as Jupiter (Roman) or Zeus (Greeks).”

And the head-scratching rules don’t stop there.

They add that three of the moons’ names must end in ‘e’, while the other two names must end in ‘a’.

NASA's Juno spacecraft captures STUNNING photo of enormous storm on Jupiter  

While these rules are pretty restrictive, many people have ignored them, tweeting other hilarious suggestions.

One user said: “Let’s be honest. Moony McMoonface is the only real option.”

Another added: “Heck the rules! If one of the newly discovered Jovian moons isn’t named ‘Moon Moon’ then we as a species have failed.”

NASA's Juno captures STUNNING footage as it dives over Jupiter's cloud tops  

If the contest rules aren’t enough to put you off and you have a suggestion, you have until April 15 to enter.

To submit your suggestion, tweet your name to @JupiterLunacy, and include the hashtag #NameJupitersMoons.

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