This list covers 6 moons whose names start with the letter K, ranging from “Kalyke” to “Kerberos.” Most of them are small, irregular bodies orbiting the giant planets of the outer solar system. They travel in distant orbits, often in retrograde paths, which makes them some of the most fascinating and hard-to-spot objects in our solar system.

Moons are natural satellites held in orbit around a planet or dwarf planet by gravity. They range enormously in size, from massive icy worlds to tiny rocky fragments just a few kilometers wide. Many moons get their names from mythology — and the K moons are no exception, drawing on Greek, Norse, Inuit, and Roman legend.

Below you’ll find the table with each moon’s name, parent planet, diameter, discovery year, and description.

Moon: The name of the moon, which typically comes from a mythological figure tied to the culture associated with its parent planet.

Parent Planet: The planet or dwarf planet the moon orbits — useful for understanding where in the solar system it lives.

Diameter (km): The moon’s approximate width in kilometers, giving you a quick sense of how large or small it is compared to others on the list.

Discovery Year: The year astronomers first confirmed the moon’s existence, often using advanced telescopes or space-based observations.

Description: A short overview of each moon’s key traits, including its orbit type, group classification, and the story behind its name.

Moons

MoonParent PlanetDiameter (km)Discovery Year
KalykeJupiter52000
KallichoreJupiter22000
KoreJupiter22003
KariSaturn72006
KiviuqSaturn162000
KerberosPluto122011

Descriptions

Kalyke
A small irregular moon of Jupiter belonging to the Ananke group, named after a daughter of Zeus in Greek mythology. It travels in a retrograde orbit far from Jupiter.
Kallichore
A tiny irregular moon of Jupiter in the Ananke group, named after one of the Horae (goddesses of the seasons) in Greek mythology. It follows a distant retrograde orbit around Jupiter.
Kore
A small irregular moon of Jupiter in the Pasiphae group, named after Kore — another name for Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter. It orbits Jupiter in a retrograde direction.
Kari
An irregular moon of Saturn in the Norse group, named after a giant associated with wind in Norse mythology. It follows a distant retrograde orbit around Saturn.
Kiviuq
An irregular moon of Saturn in the Inuit group, named after Kiviuq, a legendary wandering hero of Inuit mythology. It travels in a prograde orbit and is one of the larger irregular moons of Saturn.
Kerberos
One of Pluto’s five known moons, named after Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the underworld in Greek mythology. It was discovered using the Hubble Space Telescope.
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