We know that Jupiter is the largest planet in the entire solar system. Numerous observations have been made to determine the Jupiter satellitesTo date, it is known that there are 79 moons of this planet. Natural satellites are also called moons, and they are celestial bodies that orbit a planet. In the solar system, only six planets have natural satellites, except for Mercury and Venus.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics and discoveries of the satellites of Jupiter.
Jupiter characteristics
The density of Jupiter is about a quarter the density of our planet. However, the interior is made up mostly of the gases hydrogen, helium and argon. Unlike on Earth, there is no clear distinction between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere. This is because atmospheric gases slowly transform into liquids.
Hydrogen is so compressed that it is in a metallic liquid state. This does not happen on our planet. Due to the distance and the difficulty of studying the interior of this planet, it is not yet known what the nucleus is composed of. It is speculated that of rocky materials in the form of ice, given the very low temperatures.
Regarding its dynamics, one revolution around the Sun every 11,9 Earth yearsDue to its distance and longer orbit, it takes longer to orbit the Sun than our planet. Its orbital distance is 778 million kilometers. Earth and Jupiter have periods when they move closer and further away from each other. This is because their orbits are not the same every year. Every 47 years, the distance between the planets varies.
The minimum distance between the two planets is 590 million kilometers. This distance occurred in 2013. However, these planets can be found at a maximum distance of 676 million kilometers.
Jupiter satellites
Since studying began in the year From 1892 to today, the list of Jupiter's satellites is 79. They have been gradually discovered and their characteristics have been elucidated. They are named after the lovers, with views and daughters of the God Jupiter. These satellites are divided into several groups: regular and irregular. Within the first group, we have the Galilean moons, and within the irregular moons, we have the prograde and retrograde moons. There are eight regular moons, and all of them have a prograde orbit. This means that in their orbit, the celestial body's motion rotates in the same direction as the planet's rotation. Not all satellites are round; some are completely amorphous.
Some believe that satellites formed from a circumplanetary disk, an accretion ring of gas and solid fragments similar to that of a protoplanetary disk around a star. To learn more about the formation of these celestial bodies, you can consult an article on the water on other planets and satellites and explore more about the composition and storms of Jupiter.
Continuing with the division, we have the irregular moons. They are smaller and more distant objects than regular moons. They have all kinds of orbits. Within this large group, we have the moons with prograde orbits. Within the classification of irregular moons, we also find other groups. The first is the Himalia group. This is a group of Jupiter's satellites that have a similar orbit and are named after the largest moon in that region. So named because Himalia is 170 km in diameter, compared to 36, 20, and 80 km for Listea, Leda, and Elara, respectively.
Then we have another group within the irregular moons. These are called retrograde moons. These moons get this name because they have an orbit contrary to Jupiter's rotation. In this group, we have the rest of all the moons up to 79. For more detailed information about the satellites in our solar system, you can consult the article on Saturn's satellites.
Jupiter's main satellites
This planet has four main moons, named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These four moons are Galilean and belong to the group of regular moons, and can be seen with a telescope from our planet.
Moon Io
It is the closest and densest of the Galilean moons. Here we find extensive plains and other mountain ranges, but it does not have any craters caused by meteorite impacts. Because it has no craters, it is thought to be relatively young in geological time. It has more than 400 active volcanoes, being the most geologically active celestial object in the entire solar system.
It has a small, fairly thin atmosphere composed of sulfur dioxide, among other gases. It has almost no water due to its proximity to the planet and the effect it has on this moon. To learn more about Jupiter's satellites, you can visit this article about the natural satellites and its classification.
Moon Europa
It is the smallest of the four main moons. It has an icy crust and a core probably composed of iron and nickel. Its atmosphere is also quite tenuous and thin and is composed primarily of oxygen. The surface is quite smooth, and this texture has led scientists to believe that it may have had a subsurface ocean that could have been used to create life. Because life is possible, Europa has become the most interesting satellite to explore in the entire solar system. For more details, see the article on how many moons does jupiter have.
Jupiter Satellites: Moon Ganymede
It is the largest satellite in the entire solar system and is the only one that has its own magnetic field. It is twice the size of our moon and he is also roughly the same age. It is composed primarily of silicates and ice. Its core is sunken and rich in iron. It is thought to have an internal ocean that may hold more water than all of Earth's oceans. For more information about this fascinating planet, visit the article on the planet Jupiter.
Callisto Moon
It is the second largest satellite of Jupiter. It doesn't suffer tidal heating from Jupiter's gravity. It's the farthest away. It rotates synchronously and always faces the same direction toward the planet, just as Earth's moon does.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the satellites of Jupiter and their characteristics.