[Astrobiology (Journal)] Recent models for the origin of Jupiter indicate that the Galilean satellites were mostly derived from largely unprocessed solar nebula solids and planetesimals.
Galilean moons
Posted inJupiter
Joint Dynamical-geophysical Evidence For A Limit Cycle In The Galilean Moons
[astro-ph.EP] Io, Europa, and Ganymede orbit in the Laplace mean-motion resonance, where their orbital and thermochemical evolution are strongly coupled [1-5]. Forced eccentricities sustain tidal dissipation, powering Io’s volcanism and […]
Posted inJupiter
The Recent Crossing Of The 7:3 Resonance Between Ganymede And Callisto
[astro-ph.EP] Io, Europa and Ganymede are locked in the well-known Laplace resonance, while Callisto is not, even though it is very close to the 7:3 mean motion resonance with Ganymede. […]
Posted inAstrochemistry, Astrogeology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Status Report
The Physical Nature of Regolith on Icy Moons
Estimating surface properties such as porosity and grain sizes is key for planning lander missions and landing site selection on icy moons.
Posted inCallisto, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Io, Jupiter, Status Report
Callisto’s Nonresonant Orbit As An Outcome Of Circum-Jovian Disk Substructure
The Galilean moons of Io, Europa, and Ganymede exhibit a 4:2:1 commensurability in their mean motions, a configuration known as the Laplace resonance.
Posted inCallisto, Europa, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Io, Jupiter, Status Report
Not Just Gas: How Solid-Driven Torques Shaped the Migration of the Galilean Moons
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the orbital migration of the Galilean moons by incorporating self-consistent solid dynamics in circumjovian disk models. We perform two-fluid simulations using […]
Posted inAstrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Callisto, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release
Conditions For Accretion Favoring An Unmelted Callisto And A Differentiated Ganymede
Analysis of Callisto’s moments of inertia, derived from Galileo’s gravity data, suggests that its structure is not fully differentiated.
Posted inAstrochemistry, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Cryobiology, Ganymede, Icy Worlds, Jupiter, Status Report
A Patchy CO2 Exosphere On Ganymede Revealed By The James Webb Space Telescope
Jupiter’s icy moon Ganymede has a tenuous exosphere produced by sputtering and possibly sublimation of water ice. To date, only atomic hydrogen and oxygen have been directly detected in this […]