~100 km
ESTIMATED DIAMETER
~28 DAYS
ORBITAL PERIOD
~15,000–25,000 km
ESTIMATED ORBITAL DISTANCE
2016
DISCOVERY ANNOUNCED
1
KNOWN MOON OF GONGGONG
KUIPER BELT
LOCATION
THE MOON OF GONGGONG
Xiang Liu is the known natural satellite
of Gonggong, a large trans-Neptunian object
in the distant Kuiper Belt.
The moon was discovered in images obtained
with the Hubble Space Telescope and its
discovery was announced in 2016.
Xiang Liu is much smaller than Gonggong
and is difficult to observe directly because
the entire system is extremely distant from
Earth and receives very little sunlight.
Studying the orbit of Xiang Liu helps
astronomers determine the mass and other
physical properties of the Gonggong system.
The moon is named after Xiangliu, a
nine-headed serpent-like creature from
ancient Chinese mythology.
Gonggong and Xiang Liu belong to one of the
most remote planetary systems known in the
Solar System, far beyond Neptune.
XIANG LIU FEATURES
GONGGONG'S MOON
Xiang Liu is the only known natural
satellite currently associated with
Gonggong.
HUBBLE DISCOVERY
The moon was identified by astronomers
using observations from the Hubble
Space Telescope.
DISTANT WORLD
The Gonggong system lies in the distant
Kuiper Belt, far beyond Neptune's orbit.
DID YOU KNOW?
Xiang Liu is named after a
nine-headed serpent
from ancient Chinese mythology.
MEASURING THE GONGGONG SYSTEM
Xiangliu is the known moon of Gonggong. Because both objects are extremely distant and appear very small from Earth, orbital measurements are more informative than direct surface imaging.
Tracking Xiangliu around Gonggong allows astronomers to estimate the system's mass. When combined with size estimates, this helps constrain Gonggong's density and possible internal composition.
ORBONIX · KUIPER BELT
GONGGONG · XIANG LIU SYSTEM
GONGGONG · XIANG LIU SYSTEM