Back Ganumedes (maan) Afrikaans Ganymed (Mond) ALS Ganimedes (satelite) AN غانيميد Arabic ڭانيميد ARY Ganimedes (lluna) AST Qanimed (peyk) Azerbaijani قانمید (قمر) AZB Ганимед (юлдаш) Bashkir Ганімед (спадарожнік) Byelorussian
&sq=Google&lang=simple&file=File:Ganymede_g1_true.jpg) Click image for description | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | G. Galilei S. Marius |
| Discovery date | January 11, 1610 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Periapsis | 1,069,200 km (0.007147 AU) |
| Apoapsis | 1,071,600 km (0.007163 AU) |
Mean orbit radius | 1,070,400 km (0.007155 AU) |
| Eccentricity | 0.002[1] |
| 7.15455296 d (0.019588 a) | |
Average orbital speed | 10.880 km/s |
| Inclination | 2.21° (to the ecliptic) 0.20° (to Jupiter's equator) |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 2631.2 km (0.413 Earths) |
| 87.0 million km² (0.171 Earths) [2] | |
| Volume | 7.6×1010 km³ (0.0704 Earths) |
| Mass | 1.4819×1023 kg (0.025 Earths) |
Mean density | 1.942 g/cm³ |
| 1.428 m/s2 (0.146 g) | |
| 2.741 km/s (6,130 mph) | |
| synchronous | |
| zero | |
| Albedo | 0.43 ± 0.02[3] |
| Temperature | ~109 K (−172 °C) |
| 4.61 (opposition) [3] | |
| Atmosphere | |
Surface pressure | trace |
| Composition by volume | oxygen |
Ganymede[p] is the largest of the 95 known moons of the planet Jupiter. It is also the largest moon in the Solar System. Ganymede is larger in diameter than the planet Mercury, but has only about half of its mass as Ganymede is much less dense. Ganymede is part of a group called the Galilean Satellites. These also include Io, Europa and Callisto.
Galileo Galilei discovered this moon in 1610.[4] Simon Marius suggested the name "Ganymede" soon after. In Greek mythology, Ganymede was Zeus' cup-bearer.[5] This name and the names of the other Galilean satellites were not favoured for a long time, and were not put into common use until the mid-20th century. Instead, it is simply referred to by its Roman numeral designation (a system that was introduced by Galileo) as "Jupiter III" or as the "third satellite of Jupiter".[6] Ganymede is the only Galilean moon of Jupiter named after a male figure.
- ↑ "Ganymede: Facts and Figures". Solar System Exploration. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
- ↑ Using the mean radius
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Yeomans, Donald K. (2006-07-13). "Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
- ↑ Galilei, G.; Sidereus Nuncius Archived 2009-08-23 at the Wayback Machine (March 13, 1610)
- ↑ Marius, S.; (1614); Mundus Iovialis anno M.DC.IX Detectus Ope Perspicilli Belgici [1], where he attributes the suggestion to Johannes Kepler
- ↑ "Satellites of Jupiter". The Galileo Project. Retrieved 2007-11-24.