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Galilean satellites
Galilean satellites The four classical satellites Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto (in order outwards from Jupiter) which were discovered in 1610 by Galileo. The observation that they orbited a body other than the Earth was fatal to the Ptolemaic cosmology. Ganymede (radius 2638 km) is the largest satellite in the solar system, larger than both Mercury and Pluto. Europa (radius 1536 km), the smallest of the four, is a little smaller than the Moon (radius 1738 km). They occupy equatorial orbits. There is a regular decrease in density from Io (3550 kg/m3) to Callisto (1830 kg/m3), Callisto preserving one of the most heavily cratered surfaces of any satellite.
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Galilean satellites." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Galilean satellites." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Galileansatellites.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "Galilean satellites." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-Galileansatellites.html |
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Galilean satellites
Galilean satellites The four largest satellites of Jupiter, namely Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, which were discovered by Galileo in 1610. All four are easily visible in binoculars and small telescopes, and would be bright enough to be visible with the naked eye were it not for the glare of Jupiter. Some keen-sighted people have claimed to be able to see them without optical aid.
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Cite this article
"Galilean satellites." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Galilean satellites." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Galileansatellites.html "Galilean satellites." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-Galileansatellites.html |
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jovian satellites
jovian satellites See ADRASTEA (JUPITER XV); AMALTHEA (JUPITER V); ANANKE (JUPITER XII); CALLISTO (JUPITER IV); CARME (JUPITER XI); ELARA (JUPITER VII); EUROPA (JUPITER II); GANYMEDE (JUPITER III); HIMALIA (JUPITER VI); IO (JUPITER I); LEDA (JUPITER XIII); LYSITHEA (JUPITER X); METIS (JUPITER XVI); PASIPHAE (JUPITER VIII); SINOPE (JUPITER IX); and THEBE (JUPITER XIV).
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Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "jovian satellites." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "jovian satellites." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-joviansatellites.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "jovian satellites." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-joviansatellites.html |
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Galilean satellites
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Cite this article
"Galilean satellites." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Galilean satellites." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Galileansatellites.html "Galilean satellites." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Galileansatellites.html |
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