Saturn has a lot more moons

Interesting article. Does anyone know what the standard is for calling an orbiting mass a "moon"? Some of the newly discovered ones seem relatively small (3km to 7km).

That's a good question, I was wondering the same thing. I'm sure there must be a threshold, but I don't know what it is.

Definitions I found on the web seem to say that the term "moon" basically means "natural satellite", which makes this definition of moon fit the current case: "A natural celestial body having a regular orbit around another larger body, such as a planet."

With 11 of the 12 in oppositional orbit to Saturn, it seems likly that some will be pulled into Saturn's atmosphere and destroyed rather than changing direction and gradually falling into stable orbits. Yes, they do fall into the definition you came across, but I guess i have a problem with captured "temporary" strays being considered moons.

It's all temporary, man! Those moons will outlast you!

True, eventually our own moon will crash into the earth as well. But there's a difference between thousands of years and billions of them. In terms of space one can be looked at as "temporary".