Module 1 - The Solar SystemMain MenuThe Solar SystemPlanetary FactsTerrestrial PlanetsThe Outer PlanetsPlutoOrbits, Rotation and TemperatureSolar System DebrisComposition of the solar systemThe Solar System to ScaleBeyond the PlanetsPlanetary HighlightsMercuryVenusEarthEarth's MoonMarsJupiterSaturnUranusNeptuneThe End! - Well, of Module 1Frank Fuetendee05431475b87c68ebf15bbea4bfeac11808e9e
Moons of the Solar System
12016-04-05T10:08:11+00:00Brock Earth Sciences443498efbb7251f48d0d638e5c57b8774f100004141All the planetary moons in our solar system are shown here at their correct relative size and true color. Their diversity of size and appearance is testament to the unique and fascinating geologic history that each of these bodies has undergone. Two of the moons are larger than the planet Mercury, and eight of them are larger than Pluto. Earth's Moon is the fifth largest of the set, with a diameter of 3476 kilometers (2160 miles). Most of the moons are thought to have formed from a disk of debris left over from formation of the planet they orbit. However Triton, Neptune's largest moon, and several of the smallest moons, including the moons of Mars, are thought to be captured planetesimals that formed elsewhere in the solar system. Earth's Moon is thought to have formed from the debris ejected from a roughly Mars-sized object colliding with the early Earth, perhaps a unique event in the history of the solar system. The moons are organized on the diagram by the planet they orbit (top to bottom with increasing distance from the Sun) and their position relative to the planet (left to right with increasing distance from the planet). Below is a listing of the names of all the moons and the planets they orbit. Most moons are named for mythological characters associated with the character the planet is named for. While most of the planets are named for Roman characters (with the exceptions of Pluto and Uranus), most of the moon have names from Greek mythology. For example, Phobos and Deimos are the sons of Ares, the Greek version of Mars. Jupiter?s moons are all named for lovers and other close associates of Zeus (Jupiter). Saturn?s moons are named for Titans, the race that included Cronos (Saturn), Zeus? father. Neptune?s moons are named for mythological characters associated with water, and Charon was the ferryman of the dead who brought people to Pluto?s realm. By tradition, the discoverer of a moon gets to name it (now subject to approval by the International Astronomical Union). The son of the discoverer of the first two moons of Uranus (Sir William Herschel) decided to name Uranus? moons not for mythological characters, but instead for the king and queen of fairies in Shakespear?s A Midsummer Night?s Dream . This began a tradition whereby all uranian satellites are named for fairy characters in English drama. To read more about the names of the planets and their satellites, go to the U.S. Geological Survey?s nomenclature guide at http://wwwflag.wr.usgs.gov/USGSFlag/Space/nomen/append7.html . *Earth* Moon *Mars * Phobos, Deimos *Jupiter* Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, Thebe, Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, Leda, Himalia, Lysithea, Elara, Ananke, Carme, Pasiphae, Sinope *Saturn * Pan, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Epimetheus, Janus, Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Calypso, Telesto, Dione, Helene, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Iapetus, Phoebe *Uranus * Cordelia, Ophelia, Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Juliet, Portia, Rosalind, Belinda, Puck, Miranda, "Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, Oberon *Neptune* Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus, Triton, Nereid *Pluto * Charon *Image Credit*: Image processing by Tim Parker (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and Paul Schenk and Robert Herrick (Lunar and Planetary Institute), based on NASA images.plain2016-04-05T10:08:11+00:00Internet ArchiveSPD-SLRSY-181imageWhat -- UmbrielWhat -- ArielWhat -- MirandaWhat -- IapetusWhat -- TitanWhat -- RheaWhat -- DioneWhat -- TethysWhat -- EnceladusWhat -- MimasWhat -- AtlasWhat -- CallistoWhat -- GanymedeWhat -- EuropaWhat -- IoWhat -- CharonWhat -- SaturnWhat -- JupiterWhat -- Ares Launch VehiclesWhat -- UranusWhat -- SunWhat -- EarthWhat -- MarsWhat -- MoonWhere -- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)Where -- TritonWhat -- ProteusWhat -- OberonWhat -- TitaniaWhat -- PlutoWhat -- MercuryPlanetsJet Propulsion LaboratorySolar System ExplorationBrock Earth Sciences443498efbb7251f48d0d638e5c57b8774f100004
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12016-04-05T10:08:07+00:00The Outer Planets5image_header2016-07-12T11:52:18+00:00The outer, Jovian (named after Jupiter) planets consist of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
While these planets are large in diameter, their densities are relatively low, ranging from 687 to 1638 kg/m3 or 0.687 to 1.638 g/cm3. With a density of less than 1 g/cm3, Saturn would theoretically float on water. These planets cannot be rocky bodies and they are indeed primarily composed of gases and liquids. Their surface pressures are unknown because their surfaces are deep in their atmosphere and the locations and pressures are not known.
These planets have also managed to acquire a large number of moons, but we will see later that the really interesting moons are the inner, larger ones. This image shows the major moons of the outer planets, in relation to our moon. Also added into this size comparison are Mars' moons and Pluto's moon Charon, and of course the Earth itself.
To see how these larger moons compare to all the moons within the solar system see this image. We should point out that this image is at least 7 years old and we keep discovering more moons in the outer regions of the solar system. At present, Jupiter has at least 67 moons alone.
And even though it is no longer a planet, we'll stop at Pluto next.