Description
Jupiter is surrounded by a solar system in miniature of 63 known moons.
Most (59) are tiny, irregular bodies that are a combination of captured
asteroids and comets. The 4 largest are the giant Galilean Moons: Io,
Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Each is a fascinating world of its own,
with a unique history and properties: volcanically active Io, icy Europa
which may hide an ocean of liquid water beneath the surface, the grooved
terrain of Ganymede, and frozen dirty Callisto with the most ancient
surface of the four. Recorded 2006 Nov 20 in 100 Stillman Hall on the
Columbus campus of The Ohio State University.
A new podcast, Astronomy 141, Life in the Universe, is available
for those interested in continuing an exploration of topics in
modern astronomy.
Published 12/06/09
Are there planets around other stars? Are there Earth-like planets
around other stars? Do any of those harbor life? Intelligent life?
We'd like to know the answers to all of these questions, and in recent
years we've made great progress towards at least answering the first.
To date, more...
Published 12/01/06