How many moons does Jupiter have? Latest discoveries of 2022

There are many research studies going on the planets. The astronomist who are working harder to trace humans and living existence on other planets look at Jupiter’s moons with opportunities. There are 80 moons discovered by 2022. Among them, fifty-seven moons have been given official names by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and rest 23 moons are to be named officially.

There is a lot to explore about the moons revolving around Jupiter but the main center of attraction is the first four moons revolving around Jupiter beyond the earth. Here we are going to know interesting facts about Jupiter’s moons and their latest discoveries.

Table of Contents

• Let’s talk about the first four of Jupiter’s moon.
  • Galilean Moons
    • Io
    • Europa
    • Ganymede
    • Callisto
  • Structure of Galilean moons
• List of Jupiter’s moon

Let’s talk about the first four of Jupiter’s moon.

The first four moons of Jupiter are known as Galilean moons. they are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Galilean Moons

The name Galilean moons are given after the name of the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, he was the first to observe them in 1610. The German astronomer Simon Marius also claimed that he observed the Jupiter’s moons around the same time but he didn’t publish his discovery as a result Galileo was given all the credit for the discovery.

Io

It is one of the most volcanically active bodies in the solar system. Io’s surface is covered by sulfur in different colorful forms. it travels in its slightly elliptical orbit. “Tides” on the solid surface rise 300 feet (100 meters ) high due to the excessive gravity of Jupiter. It generates enough heat for volcanic activity and drives off any water. These volcanoes are driven by hot silicate magma.

Europa

Europa is considered as covered mostly with water ice and is supposed to be covering an ocean of water or slushy ice beneath. Astronomists have proper evidence for their discoveries. It is claimed that Europa has twice as much water as does Earth. Astrobiologists have given more attention to Europa cause of its possibility of having a “habitable zone”. The extreme places of Earth-like subterranean volcanoes have evidence of having life forms that are similar to what may exist on Europa.

Ganymede

Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system. The moon is even larger than the planet Mercury. It is also the only planet to have its own internally generated magnetic field.

Callisto

Callisto’s surface is heavily cratered and a visible record of events from the early history of the solar system. the very few small craters on Callisto indicate a small degree of current surface activity.

Structure of Galilean moons

There are different interiors of planets and moons as the earth has a layered structure, The Jupiter’s moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede have the same as Earth. It has a core, and a mantle of at least partially molten rock, topped by a crust of solid rock coated with sulfur compounds.

Europa and Ganymede both have a rock envelope around the core and a thin crust of impure water ice. On the other hand Europa, a global water layer probably lies just below the icy crust. While Layering at Callisto is less well defined and appears to be mainly a mixture of ice and rock.

List of Jupiter’s moon

	Label	Name	Diameter (km)	Discovery year	Discoverer
1	XVI	Metis	60×40×34	1979	Synnott(Voyager 1)
2	XV	Adrastea	20×16×13	1979	Jewitt(Voyager 2)
3	V	Amalthea	250×146×128	1892	Barnard
4	XIV	Thebe	116×98×84	1979	Synnott(Voyager 1)
5	I	Io	3,660.0×3,637.4×3,630.6	1610	Galilei (Galilei moons)
6	II	Europa	3,121.6	1610	Galilei (Galilei moons)
7	III	Ganymede	5,262.4	1610	Galilei (Galilei moons)
8	IV	Callisto	4,820.6	1610	Galilei (Galilei moons)
9	XVIII	Themisto	8	1975/2000	Kowal & Roemer/Sheppard et al.
10	XIII	Leda	16	1974	Kowal
11	VI	Himalia	170	1904	Perrine
12	X	Lysithea	36	1938	Nicholson
13	VII	Elara	86	1905	Perrine
14	—	Dia	4	2001	Sheppard et al.
15	XLVI	Carpo	3	2003	Sheppard et al.
16	—	S/2003 J 12	1	2003	Sheppard et al.
17	XXXIV	Euporie	2	2002	Sheppard et al.
18	—	S/2003 J 3	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
19	—	S/2003 J 18	2	2003	Gladman et al.
20	XLII	Thelxinoe	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
21	XXXIII	Euanthe	3	2002	Sheppard et al.
22	XLV	Helike	4	2003	Sheppard et al.
23	XXXV	Orthosie	2	2002	Sheppard et al.
24	XXIV	Iocaste	5	2001	Sheppard et al.
25	—	S/2003 J 16	2	2003	Gladman et al.
26	XXVII	Praxidike	7	2001	Sheppard et al.
27	XXII	Harpalyke	4	2001	Sheppard et al.
28	XL	Mneme	2	2003	Gladman et al.
29	XXX	Hermippe	4	2002	Sheppard et al.
30	XXIX	Thyone	4	2002	Sheppard et al.
31	XII	Ananke	28	1951	Nicholson
32	L	Herse	2	2003	Gladman et al.
33	XXXI	Aitne	3	2002	Sheppard et al.
34	XXXVII	Kale	2	2002	Sheppard et al.
35	XX	Taygete	5	2001	Sheppard et al.
36	—	S/2003 J 19	2	2003	Gladman et al.
37	XXI	Chaldene	4	2001	Sheppard et al.
38	—	S/2003 J 15	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
39	—	S/2003 J 10	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
40	—	S/2003 J 23	2	2004	Sheppard et al.
41	XXV	Erinome	3	2001	Sheppard et al.
42	XLI	Aoede	4	2003	Sheppard et al.
43	XLIV	Kallichore	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
44	XXIII	Kalyke	5	2001	Sheppard et al.
45	XI	Carme	46	1938	Nicholson
46	XVII	Callirrhoe	9	2000	Gladman et al.
47	XXXII	Eurydome	3	2002	Sheppard et al.
48	XXXVIII	Pasithee	2	2002	Sheppard et al.
49	XLIX	Kore	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
50	XLVIII	Cyllene	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
51	XLVII	Eukelade	4	2003	Sheppard et al.
52	—	S/2003 J 4	2	2003	Sheppard et al.
53	VIII	Pasiphaë	60	1908	Gladman et al.
54	XXXIX	Hegemone	3	2003	Sheppard et al.
55	XLIII	Arche	3	2002	Sheppard et al.
56	XXVI	Isonoe	4	2001	Sheppard et al.
57	—	S/2003 J 9	1	2003	Sheppard et al.
58	—	S/2003 J 5	4	2003	Sheppard et al.
59	IX	Sinope	38	1914	Nicholson
60	XXXVI	Sponde	2	2002	Sheppard et al.
61	XXVIII	Autonoe	4	2002	Sheppard et al.
62	XIX	Megaclite	5	2001	Sheppard et al.
63	—	S/2003 J 2	2	2003	Sheppard et al.

Also read: Interesting facts about clouds