What are the 4 main moons of Jupiter?

What are the 4 main moons of Jupiter?

ESA Science & Technology – Jupiter’s largest moons From top to bottom, the moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Europa is almost the same size as Earth’s moon, while Ganymede, the largest moon in the Solar System, is larger than planet Mercury.

Which way do Jupiter’s moons orbit?

Jupiter’s Regular Satellites are so named because they have prograde orbits – i.e. they orbit in the same direction the rotation of their planet. These orbits are also nearly circular and have a low inclination, meaning they orbit close to Jupiter’s equator.

Does Callisto rotate?

Callisto’s rotation is tidally locked to its orbit around Jupiter, so that the same hemisphere always faces inward. Because of this, there is a sub-Jovian point on Callisto’s surface, from which Jupiter would appear to hang directly overhead.

What are the orbits of Jupiter’s moons?

The moons of Jupiter have orbital periods ranging from seven hours to almost three Earth years. Some of the orbits are nearly circular, while the moons farthest from Jupiter have more irregular orbits.

What planet has 62 moons?

Saturn
Saturn has at least 62 moons. The largest, Titan, is slightly larger than Mercury, and is the second-largest moon in the solar system behind Jupiter’s moon Ganymede.

Does Io water?

Scientists have found water molecules frozen in the surface ices of Jupiter’s moon Io. “This is the first strong evidence of solid water on the surface of this satellite,” said Dr. The water ice is combined with the more abundant sulfur dioxide ice on Io’s surface.

Which Galilean moon orbits Jupiter the fastest?

Discovered by Stephen Synnott through images taken by the Voyager 1 in 1979, Metis is the closest moon to Jupiter. It has a diameter of 40 km (25 miles) and orbits Jupiter in 0.294780 Earth days, which is faster than Jupiter rotates on its axis.

What is the closest moon to Jupiter?

Metis is the closest moon to Jupiter. Metis is 25 miles (40 km) in diameter and orbits 79,500 miles (128,000 km) from Jupiter, within its main ring. Metis and the next moon, Adrastea , are probably the source of the dust in this ring.

What are the major moons of Jupiter?

The four largest moons of Jupiter, now called Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, were discovered by Galileo Galilei himself, and are appropriately known today as the Galilean satellites. Ganymede is the largest moon in our solar system, larger even than Mercury and Pluto.

What is Jupiter’s largest moon?

Jupiter’s largest moon is the Ganymede. It is also the largest satellite in the Solar System. The largest moon of Jupiter is larger than Pluto and Mercury, and slightly smaller than Mars. Additionally, this moon can be misjudged as a planet if you are orbiting the sun, instead of Jupiter.

What is the size of Jupiter’s moons?

Most of the moons of Jupiter are small, with about 60 of the satellites being less than 6.2 miles in diameter. The number of moons changes fairly frequently, with the 79th moon being reported in July 2018.