Ganymede

                                                                                    

   Ganymede is a natural satellite of Jupiter and the largest natural satellite in the Solar System. Completing an orbit in a little more than seven days, it is the seventh satellite and third Galilean satellite from Jupiter.

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Info Ganymede_files\Info.htm

 

                

                                                                                         

  

 

                                                                                          

                                                                                            Ganymede is Jupiter's largest moon.

 

 

Discovery
Discovered by G. Galilei
S. Marius
Discovery date January 11, 1610
Designations
Alternate name Jupiter III
Adjective Ganymedian, Ganymedean
Orbital characteristics
Periapsis 1 069 200 km
Apoapsis 1 071 600 km
Mean orbit radius 1 070 400 km
Eccentricity 0.001 3
Orbital period 7.154 552 96 
Average orbital speed 10.880 km/s
Inclination 0.20° (to Jupiter's equator)
Satellite of Jupiter
Physical characteristics
Mean radius 2634.1 ± 0.3 km (0.413 Earths)
Surface area 87.0 million km2 (0.171 Earths)
Volume 7.6 × 1010 km3 (0.0704 Earths)
Mass 1.4819 × 1023 kg (0.025 Earths)
Mean density 1.936 g/cm3[2]
Equatorial surface gravity 1.428 m/s2 (0.146 g)[e]
Escape velocity 2.741 km/s
Rotation period synchronous
Axial tilt 0–0.33°
Albedo 0.43 ± 0.02
Surface temp.
   K
min mean max
70 110 152
Apparent magnitude 4.61 (opposition)
Atmosphere
Surface pressure trace
Composition oxygen

                                                                                            

Ganymede participates in orbital resonances with Europa and Io: for every orbit of Ganymede, Europa orbits twice and Io orbits four times.

 

Jupiter's big moon Ganymede is not only the size of a planet -- it sounds like one too, as heard in audio recordings made from data returned by NASA's Galileo spacecraft released today.

      Characterized by a soaring whistle and hissing static, Ganymede's song reveals that the Solar System's largest moon is also the only one known to possess a planet-like, self- generated magnetic cocoon called a magnetosphere, which shields the moon from the magnetic influence of its giant parent body, Jupiter                                                                          

                                                                                               

The average density of Ganymede, 1.936 g/cm, suggests a composition of approximately equal parts rocky material and water, which is mainly in the form of  ice.                   Ganymedian surface is a mix of two types of terrain: very old, highly cratered, dark regions and somewhat younger (but still ancient), lighter regions marked with an extensive array of grooves and ridges.                                                                                                                                                                                       Map of Ganymede A map of Ganymede (small version)

                                                       
False color temperature map of Ganymede.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Voyager 2 image mosaic of Ganymede's anti-Jovian hemisphere. The ancient dark area of Galileo Regio lies at the upper right. It is separated from the smaller dark region of Marius Regio to its left by the brighter and younger band of Uruk Sulcus. Fresh ice ejected from the relatively recent Osiris Crater created the bright rays at the bottom.

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Ganymede orbits Jupiter at a distance of 1, 070, 400 km, third among the Galilean satellites, and completes a revolution every seven days and three hours.

           Galileo's C9 orbit around Jupiter

Approaching Callisto Getting really close to Callisto
Approaching Callisto with Jupiter visible in the distance. Getting really close to Callisto.
Having flown by Callisto's darkside we see a "sunrise" Goodbye to Callisto
Having flown by Callisto's darkside we see a "sunrise". Goodbye to Callisto.
Approaching the next satellite - Ganymede Closest to Ganymede
Approaching the next satellite - Ganymede. Closest to Ganymede, about 80000 km.
Callisto's tiny crescent above Ganymede Io transiting the face of Jupiter
A nice view - Callisto's tiny crescent above Ganymede. Zooming in on Io transiting the face of Jupiter.
Nearing the end of the Io transit Towards the end of the animation
Nearing the end of the Io transit. Towards the end of the orbit.

                                                Pictures of Ganymede taken by Voyager Basemap Mosaics