Why is Ganymede important?
Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is the largest satellite in the solar system. The moon likely has a salty ocean underneath its icy surface, making it a potential location for life. The European Space Agency plans a mission to Jupiter’s icy moons that in 2030, is planned to arrive and put special emphasis on observing Ganymede.
Why does Ganymede orbit Jupiter?
Size, Mass and Orbit: This is due to Ganymede’s composition, which consists of water ice and silicate rock (see below). Ganymede has a 4:1 orbital resonance with Io and a 2:1 resonance with Europa. Essentially, this means that Io orbits Jupiter four times (and Europa twice) for every orbit made by Ganymede.
Why does Ganymede have an ocean?
In March 2015, scientists reported that measurements with the Hubble Space Telescope of how the aurorae moved confirmed that Ganymede has a subsurface ocean. A large salt-water ocean affects Ganymede’s magnetic field, and consequently, its aurora.
Can you stand on Ganymede?
Scientists have speculated since the 1970s that Ganymede could have such an ocean. While the Hubble telescope made its observations in the UV spectrum, casting the aurorae in blue, they would actually appear red if you were to stand on the surface of Ganymede.
Is there a planet made of glass?
The planet, known as HD 189733b, is a gas giant with a daytime temperature of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit where it possibly rains liquid glass sideways amid 4,500 mph winds, NASA says. To deduce the planet’s color, astronomers measured how much light was reflected off its surface.
Does it rain glass on Mars?
The fourth planet from the sun, Mars has geological features like the Earth and moon, such as craters and valleys, many of which were formed through rainfall. Although there is a growing body of evidence that there was once water on Mars, it does not rain there today.
Which planet is full of water?
Earth is the only known planet to have bodies of liquid water on its surface. Europa is thought to have subsurface liquid water.