NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has provided significant evidence for Jupiter’s icy moon Ganymede, the largest moon in our solar system. The spacecraft discovered that Ganymede has a magnetic field, which is the signature of a partially molten interior. This ocean is thought to have more water than all the water on Earth’s surface. The interior structure of Ganymede consists of four layers, with a dense, iron-rich core with a radius of 1,500 km. Based on geochemical and geophysical models, scientists expected Ganymede’s interior to consist of an undifferentiated mixture of rock and ice or a differentiated structure with a large lunar size.
The magnetic fields of Ganymede and Io could be due to remanent magnetization, dynamo action, or magneto-convection in the satellites’ interiors. The bright material is only a few hundred meters thick (except at the center) and may be material excavated from the interior of Ganymede. Ganymede’s core, in other words, is a molten metal snowglobe, shaken and stirred by Jupiter’s gravity. This cycle of rising and falling iron creates motions in the liquid core and provides energy for generating a magnetic.
The Galileo spacecraft measured that Ganymede had a magnetic field, indicating that its interior was at least partly melted and warm. The rocks settled to the center, forming the core. In this respect, Ganymede is different from Callisto, which apparently failed to melt and differentiate. Volcanism plays an integral role in these processes, and is consistent with partial melting of Ganymede’s interior.
In conclusion, the structure, composition, and dynamical states of the interiors of Jupiter’s moons, including Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, are being studied. The presence of partial melt in the mantle may result in lower effective viscosities, implying phase-lag differences. The planet, GJ1214b, has a mass about six times that of Earth and its interior is likely mostly made of water ice.
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What does the surface of Ganymede look like?
Hubble’s sharp view of Ganymede’s surface allows astronomers to observe features such as the white impact crater, Tros, and its system of rays. The image also shows Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a storm that has been raging for over 300 years. The image also reveals the texture of clouds in the Jovian atmosphere and various storms and vortices. Astronomers use these images to study Jupiter’s upper atmosphere, as Ganymede reflects sunlight that passes through Jupiter’s atmosphere, providing information about the gas giant’s atmosphere and properties of Jupiter’s high-altitude haze. The color image, taken on April 9, 2007, shows Jupiter and Ganymede in close to natural colors.
Does Ganymede have a liquid core?
Ganymede is a fully differentiated body with an iron-rich, liquid metallic core, giving it the lowest moment of inertia factor of any solid body in the Solar System. Its internal ocean may contain more water than all of Earth’s oceans combined. Ganymede’s magnetic field is likely created by convection within its core and influenced by tidal forces from Jupiter’s greater magnetic field. It has a thin oxygen atmosphere, including O, O 2, and possibly O 3, and a minor atmospheric constituent of atomic hydrogen.
The surface of Ganymede consists of two main types of terrain: lighter regions, which are crosscut by extensive grooves and ridges, dating from less than 4 billion years ago, and darker regions saturated with impact craters, dated to four billion years ago.
What is the interior of Ganymede?
Ganymede, a moon in the Milky Way, has three main layers: a metallic iron core, a spherical rock shell, and a spherical ice shell. Scientists have discovered irregular lumps beneath the icy surface, which may be rock formations. Computer models suggest ice and oceans may be stacked in layers, similar to a club sandwich. The Galileo spacecraft discovered Ganymede’s magnetic field in 1996, supporting the theory. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has found more evidence for an underground saltwater ocean and a thin oxygen atmosphere.
Why does Ganymede have a melted interior?
The discovery of a magnetic field at Ganymede by the Galileo spacecraft in 1996 was surprising due to its distance from the Sun and expected solid core. The magnetic field is believed to be due to tidal heating from the moon’s non-circular orbit around Jupiter, which keeps the iron core molten. Convection within the core and rotation of Ganymede produce a magnetic dynamo. Although smaller than Jupiter’s magnetic field, it is strong enough to create a distinct magnetosphere.
Aurae around Ganymede’s north and south poles are a clear sign of a magnetic field. Aurorae are spectacular ribbons of light caused by interactions of electrically charged particles. Jupiter’s intense magnetic field, 20, 000 times stronger than Earth’s, creates the most powerful aurorae in the Solar System. These aurorae are permanent and variable in intensity, caused by electrically charged sulphur and oxygen ions from Jupiter’s volcanic moon Io. Jupiter’s auroral light shows also include X-ray flares every 27 minutes, caused by vibrations in the planet’s magnetic field lines.
Could Ganymede be terraformed?
Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter, may have liquid water under its surface, which could be heated by adding greenhouse gases like Sulfur Hexafluoride and Nitrogen Trifluoride. It also has a strong magnetosphere, which is crucial for holding an atmosphere. Ganymede orbits Jupiter once every 7. 15 Earth days, so measures must be taken to prevent it from becoming too hot for life to exist. Its rotation cannot be sped up, and the speed of its orbiting Jupiter would need to be increased to create an Earth-like day-night cycle.
A ‘Jupiter eclipse’ may complicate matters, but it would make the day of that eclipse colder than usual. Ganymede’s size is smaller than Earth’s, so it may not have enough gravity to permanently hold an atmosphere. However, it would take thousands to tens of thousands of years for it to lose its atmosphere. The ice on the surface can be converted into oxygen for the atmosphere, which could be made into Carbon Dioxide. More CO2 could be taken from Venus, which has enough atmosphere, including nitrogen from Titan, to terraform several worlds.
Does Ganymede have a solid surface?
Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon and the largest in the solar system, has been identified as the primary target for the European Space Agency’s Jupiter icy moon explorer mission (JUICE). The mission was launched on April 14, 2023, and is projected to reach the Jovian neighborhood in December 2031. It is probable that Ganymede possesses a salty ocean beneath its icy surface, which would render it a prospective location for extraterrestrial life.
Is Ganymede habitable?
Scientists are skeptical about the possibility of life on Ganymede due to its internal structure, which is believed to cause high pressure at the base of the ocean to turn water into ice. This would make it difficult for hot-water vents to bring nutrients into the ocean, which could be a scenario where extraterrestrial life could occur. However, Lorenz Roth, a planetary astronomer at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, has provided answers to some questions about Ganymede, including the large Jupiter moons, the Galilean moons.
Does Ganymede have lava?
Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, has a radius of 3280 miles, making it larger than Mercury, Pluto, and Mars. If it rotated around the Sun, it would be classified as a planet. Ganymede’s surface features bright and dark regions, including mountains, valleys, craters, and lava flows. The dark regions are more densely filled with craters, suggesting older regions. The largest dark region is Galileo Regio, almost 2000 miles in diameter. The lighter regions display troughs and ridges, indicating tectonic movement.
Ganymede’s craters are not deep and do not have mountains around their edges, due to its soft crust and flattened geological time frame. It also has a complex internal structure. Ganymede’s unique features make it a unique and fascinating celestial object.
Does Ganymede have lava flows?
Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon, has a radius of 3280 miles, making it larger than Mercury, Pluto, and Mars. If it rotated around the Sun, it would be classified as a planet. Ganymede’s surface features bright and dark regions, including mountains, valleys, craters, and lava flows. The dark regions are more densely filled with craters, suggesting older regions. The largest dark region is Galileo Regio, almost 2000 miles in diameter. The lighter regions display troughs and ridges, indicating tectonic movement.
Ganymede’s craters are not deep and do not have mountains around their edges, due to its soft crust and flattened geological time frame. It also has a complex internal structure. Ganymede’s unique features make it a unique and fascinating celestial object.
Does the moon have a partial liquid core?
Scientists have discovered the moon’s interior structure, revealing a fluid outer core and a solid inner core similar to Earth’s. The discovery was made by researchers from Côte d’Azur University and the Institute of Celestial Mechanics and Ephemeris Calculations (IMCCE) in France. The moon’s structure has been a subject of debate since the first half of the 20th century, with the first hints coming from NASA’s Apollo missions.
The lunar landers’ instruments suggested the celestial body was differentiated, with denser material at the center and less dense material near the surface. Apollo astronauts also left seismometers on the moon, which later revealed it experiences moonquakes.
📹 Can Humanity Colonize Ganymede? (Moon of Jupiter)
Ganymede is one of the largest satellites in our solar system, it orbits the gas giant Jupiter and also has a magnetosphere.
FINALLY, someone else sees Ganymede’s potential for future space missions. So many people get caught up on the Mars hype and even Jupiter’s arguably much deadlier moon Europa constantly overshadows it in pop culture and astronomy they view Ganymede as a boring icy rock and overlook it’s unique attributes, like size, magnetosphere and subsurface ocean.
Allen: I’m going to talk about human feces being turned into fertilizer Matt Damon style while showing a woman walking through a field of wheat… presumably barefoot. Not w, Let’s talk hydroponics As a fun sidenote, any colonization of Ganymede will likely see thr use of a combination of aquaponics and aerponics (likely forogpomics). Water would be desalinated, anf put in a tank, from sh introduced to grow as a food and fertilizer source. This water is thrm aerosolized at the root zone reducing nutrient and water requirements for the plant to the minimal allowing you to produce more plant with less water and nutrient.
While I don’t know if any of Jupiter’s moons were colonized in Space Battleship Yamato 2199, there was mention of a martian colony, a mining facility on one of Saturn’s moons, and an alien base on Pluto. I think you would enjoy checking out that series, and perhaps doing an episode about the ship it is named for. (hint, hint,)
In many ways, Ganymede would be the best natural satellite to colonize. Firstly, Ganymede has a magnetic field, which would protect settlements against radiation without having to be underground bunkers. Also partially thanks to this magnetic field, Ganymede is just about the only moon that could be classically terraformed (made Earthlike and thus habitable). The closest we could ever hope to terraform the other moons of our solar system would be to dome them over.
Good article Alan!! I’m a really big fan of The Expanse, liked the TV, and am currently in mid Book.6 of the books series.. Super well done story writing and good believable Sci-Fi! In my opinion, the idea of Ganymede being habitable is totally within the realm of possibility. The fact that Ganymede has a magnetosphere is a really big plus, and would lend itself to being used as was done in the Expanse series! Also, digging down into the ice, and building out in tunnels would provide really good radiation protection along with the magnetosphere of he moon. Thanks for the good article!!
You probably wouldnt ship soil to other planets. You would ship microbes specially tailored to process sterile soil into something more useful. Then you just need some good silicate asteroids shipped into orbit and some key elements shipped in in bulk like nitrogen (available from earth or venus, the latter of which we want to remove a lot of if we are going to terraform it, along with cooling venus off enough that the Co2 in its atmosphere precipitates out as a solid so we can easily get it out of venues’ atmosphere before we warm it back up to habitable temperatures). Hydroponics or aeroponics will still likely be the order of the day, but only until your food and oxygen production plants produce enough waste biomass to make soil on site.
The other advantage of space exploration is it gives Humanity a bolt hole in case of a zombie apocalypse. Most deaths in space are the results of vacuum accidents or ship malfunctions and those either result in cremation or a zombie in a space suit – which can’t bite and is effectively neutered. And besides, airlock doors make great defences. As an added side benifit, enforcing Quarantines and lockdowns are easy, and everyone has their own independent air supply, in case of Covid-77.
I hear a lot of people talk about living on low gravity planets, other celestial bodies and zero gravity. But as a thought what the other way if we found a planet with higher gravity then earth. How high could a normal person live under with no permanent damage and for how long? I imagine it cant be much as but still like to know a number. Like would 1.1 gravity over a long period of time be to much?
Does anyone really know who Ganymede was named after? The “cupbearer” to the Greek god Zeus. Right? Wrong! Here again is how the history of LGBTQ peoples have been censored to expunge them from historical significance. His physical beauty was such that he was seduced by Zeus and taken to Mr. Olympus to serve the gods of Greek mythology. These services included whatever the gods would ask, including sex. In a culture in which sexuality was more humanistic in its fluidity, the ancient Greeks would have found our prudery laughable.
3:00 so, sure yes 1/6th gravity would absolutely lower fuel costs for take off, they INCREASE fuel costs for LANDINGS….to the point where fuel savings for lift off are completely negated on the landings…. Landing on earth has it’s own challenges; namely friction. But our dense atmosphere does most of the work of slowing an incoming ship down. Certainly slow enough for (admittedly large) parachutes to do the rest of the work. But landing on Mars is much more involved. With only 1% of the atmospheric pressure, the craft itself has to provide all of the arresting force. Retro rockets, parachutes and even air bag deployment for a…bouncier landing. Low grav is great for lift off…an absolute chore for landings. And the problem only gets worse as the crafts get larger..
The Expanse wasn’t the first to explore this idea. In Cowboy Bebop, they colonized Ganamede too. And that came out in 2001 a full 14 years before. Also, new info says we may only have 250million years before the next super continent kills all mammalian life on Earth… not to mention all the other possible ways the universe is going to attempt to snuff us out… So we really need to work on colonizing outside our planet or we’ll just succumb to history in our neck of the universe.
Anyone else find it weird that the dead arent plant food? In the show Hannibal, it looked as if it was quite a good medium for mushrooms, which Im also kinda shocked the belters arent into developing. One of the more wasteful aspects of growing plants in addition to the water requirements is the heat and light. Have to keep it all warm so the water dosnt freeze, so you have to keep it heated. But most plants also need light to grow, which like heat costs energy, which they cant always spare. Mushrooms grow in the dark. They also eat shit. Seems to me, one of the big staples of belter life should be mushrooms, as it only needs minimal water, heat and minimal light! Add to that, they would grow well in the dead, Im just shocked is all. Maybe its a gravity thing or a bacterium thing, Im not a botanist, so I dont know why it wouldnt be awesome. Ive just seen how they grow psyllobin mushrooms in Amsterdam docu once. Very compact. Very light weight as well. Things you would think would be considerations for belters.
I actually came up with a little scenario in my head about how in the late 23rd Century, Ganymede was home to the capital city of a collection of colonies on a few of Jupiter’s moons, such as Europa and Callisto, that by 2299 AD, became an independent nation called the Republic of Jupiter. This was one of five different planetary governments that humanity had set up as it colonized the Solar System over the last 2 1/2 centuries. The others were the Republic of Terra, based on Earth, the Republic of Luna, based on Earth’s Moon, the Republic of Mars, and the Republic of Asteron, which was made up of several different asteroid colonies in the Asteroid Belt. These five nations were then part of a economic, political, and military alliance called the United Republics of Sol, or URS. There is a lot more to my scenario then just that, but I think its a pretty cool scenario. What do you think?