huge orange-red Jupiter - the largest planet in the solar system gaseous.Its name the Romans gave quite appropriate: Jupiter (the ancient Greeks - Zeus) was the supreme god on Mount Olympus.He has a huge number of both large and small satellites, called, respectively, the names of many lovers, wives and descendants of the aforementioned god.
most significant in size moons of Jupiter - Ganymede is Europe, Io and Callisto.They are called the Galilean moons even as first noticed them in the firmament of the famous Galileo Galilei in winter 1610.For this he needed a telescope increases the size of 32 times.
as does Jupiter, its moons are very bright, and their orbits are far apart from each other, so they are easy to see even in the modern field binoculars.
Eight interplanetary stations consistently explored the planet and its satellites.On the basis of these studies we can confidently say that all the moons of Jupiter are very unusual, and each of them has a "highlight".
Io - is the most colorful companion.This is explained by the fact that it has many active volcanoes that spew black, red, yellow, brown, orange lava.On any other celestial bodies within the solar system besides Earth, active volcanoes anymore.Therefore, Io is the most volcanically active title of the planet.And in the ionosphere of the satellite under the influence of Jupiter's magnetic field continually flare aurora high intensity.
another moon of Jupiter, Europa - the brightest and most smooth solid celestial body in the solar system.Elevations on its surface do not exceed one meter in height.The craters from asteroids, too shallow and almost not visible.The explanation for this phenomenon is that the entire planet is covered with a thick layer of ice, under which scientists suggest immense salty ocean.When Europa's surface cracks and fissures, there enters the water and then freezes, filling irregularities.Moreover, in the waters of the "ice" of the ocean may be primitive life.However, all compounded by very high levels of radiation on the planet.But scientists expect to solve all scientific and technical problems with the probes thoroughly investigate this mysterious moon of Jupiter.
The largest of all the satellites - Ganymede.For its size it surpasses Mercury, and it could be an independent planet of the solar system, if not revolved around Jupiter and the sun.Ganymede is covered with a layer of ice, and its thickness is much greater than in Europe.The entire surface of the satellite striated smooth grooves, the width of which is 15 km, and the length - 30 km.Another interesting feature of Ganymede - is the presence of active "volcanoes" that spew water-salt solution instead of lava.Because of atmospheric phenomena, astronomers discovered loss of frost, the composition of which has not been studied.
Callisto - is the most distant and oldest satellite of Jupiter.It also consists predominantly of ice, water and minerals, as well its entire surface is cratered various diameters.Magnetic field at this celestial body is not present, and therefore, there is no solid metallic core.
Besides the four major, there are also smaller moons of Jupiter - there are about sixty.This boulders and distant from Jupiter asteroids that hit in its gravitational field, such as Carme and Sinope.There are also the so-called inner moons of Jupiter, orbits that pass inside the orbit of Io.On the surface of these satellites, the largest of which are called Adrastea and Amalthea, Io settle volcanic emissions.
