![]() They are small and have elliptical and inclined orbits around their parent planet. The other moons of Jupiter are irregular moons. The Galilean moons are believed to have formed together with Jupiter since they have nearly circular orbits near the plane of Jupiter’s equator. Jupiter’s regular moons consist of the Galilean moons and an inner group of 4 small moons with diameters less than 200 km / 124 mi, and orbits with radii less than 200,000 km / 124,274 mi.Īll of these moons have orbital inclinations of less than half a degree. Though Jupiter has 79 moons, 63 of them are less than 10 km / 6.2 mi in diameter. This is because this moon is the least radiated out of the Galilean moon. Many consider Callisto as the best option of establishing a base. Callisto has a thin atmosphere that is made out of molecular oxygen and carbon dioxide. It has the lowest density of Jupiter’s moons, and its surface appears to be the oldest and most heavily cratered in the Solar System. It’s possible that this moon may also host an underground ocean of liquid water, but further evidence is needed. It is the least affected moon of Jupiter, in regards to the gas giant’s powerful magnetosphere. Callisto has a diameter of about 4,821 km / 2,995 mi, and a third of the mass of Mercury. CallistoĬallisto is the second-largest natural satellite of Jupiter and the third-largest moon in the Solar System. This moon has the highest rate of either having or developing life since it most likely has an underground water ocean. Smaller than our Moon, Europa has a diameter of 3,100 km / 1,900 mi, and its mostly made out of silicate rock, and it has a water-ice crust and probably an iron-nickel core.Įuropa’s atmosphere is primarily made out of oxygen, and it has the smoothest surface of any known solid object. It is the smallest Galilean moon and the sixth-largest moon in the Solar System. EuropaĮuropa is the rockstar of Jupiter’s moons. Ganymede is made out of equal amounts of silicate rock and water ice, having an iron-rich, liquid core, and an internal ocean that may contain more water than all the water on Earth combined. Outward from Jupiter, Ganymede is the seventh moon, and it completes one trip around its parent body in 7 days. Ganymede has the lowest inertia factor of any solid body in the Solar System. Ganymede has a diameter of 5,268 km / 3,273 mi and a radius of 2,634 km / 1,636 mi. This moon is even bigger than the planet Mercury. Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter, and overall the largest moon in the Solar System. This moon is mainly made of silicate rock surrounding a molten iron core. Io’s volcanoes produce plumes that reach 500 km / 300 mi above the surface. Io is larger than our Moon, having a mean radius of 1,131 mi / 1,821 km. ![]() Io is tidally locked to Jupiter, and it orbits its parent planet in 1.77 Earth-days. The friction is caused by the pull between Jupiter and the other larger moons. This geological activity is due to the tidal heating caused by friction. This giant moon is the most geologically active object in the Solar System, with over 400 active volcanoes on its surface. It is also the fourth-largest moon in the Solar System, yet it has the highest density and the least amount of water molecules of any known celestial object in the Solar System. ![]() Io is the innermost and third-largest of the four Galilean moons. Let us see why they are sometimes even more eye-catching than Jupiter himself, and why scientists consider them valuable enough to send new spacecraft to analyze them. So, let’s talk a bit about Jupiter’s moons. Many missions are planned for Jupiter in the following years, and many of them target the four biggest moons of Jupiter, the Galilean Moons. Jupiter might have more hidden moons orbiting around it, and if that is the case, they will surely be discovered when other probes will arrive within its borders. This title belongs to Saturn, who currently hosts 82 natural satellites. However, Jupiter isn’t the King of the Moons it doesn’t have the most natural satellites. The four most famous moons, the Galilean Moons, are among the biggest moons in the Solar System. Other planets, such as Mars, are blessed with two however, they are very little.īut what about the gas giants? How many moons does Jupiter have? Since 2020, Jupiter has 79 confirmed moons orbiting it. Planet Earth is blessed with having one natural satellite. If it weren’t for our Moon, we would probably feel lonely. ![]()
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