How Many Moons Does Jupiter Have?

Tap to Read ➤ Omkar Phatak

Jupiter is quite the crowd-puller as far as satellites are concerned. With 50 named satellites and counting, the giant planet has only just begun revealing its secrets.

ESA Orders Some JUICE for Jupiter

The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch JUICE (JUpiter ICy moons Explorer) in 2022 to explore Jupiter's moons - Europa, Callisto and Ganymede for habitability, as future targets for space colonization.

Jupiter has a record 67 satellites, of which only fifty are named till date, rest of the 17 being provisional moons - yet to be named after a Greek mythical character, as is the tradition. Jupiter is the largest of all Jovian planets (gaseous planets) and also the largest in our solar system.

Its mass is almost one thousandth of the Sun (0.0009546 Solar Mass), that is 317.83 times Earth Mass or 1.8981 x 1027 Kg. With such an enormous amount of mass concentrated within, the gravitational pull of Jupiter is phenomenal.

No small object can escape the gravitational tug of the planet within its domain of influence. That may be the reason why Jupiter has the largest number of satellites orbiting it. Most of them may be captured asteroids. Let me introduce you to the many moons imprisoned by the gas giant's gravity for eternity.

Moons of Jupiter

The 67 satellites include four Galilean Moons that are the largest of all. About 99.997% of the orbiting mass around Jupiter is concentrated in the four large Galilean moons, while the rest (0.003%) is distributed among the rings and smaller satellites. Here is a short introduction to every one of the known satellites of Jupiter. (Note: +/- indicate prograde/retrograde motion)

Ganymede

Diameter- 5,262.4 Km Mass- 14.819 x 1022 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 1,070,412 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +7.1546 days Inclination- 0.204° Eccentricity- 0.0011 Year of Discovery- 1610, Padua Discoverer- Galileo Galilei Group- Galilean

Callisto

Diameter- 4,820.6 Km Mass- 10.759 x 1022 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 1,882,709 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +16.689 days Inclination- 0.205° Eccentricity- 0.0074 Year of Discovery- 1610, Padua Discoverer- Galileo Galilei Group- Galilean

Io

Mean Diameter- 3642 Km Mass- 8.9319 x 1022 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 421,700 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +1.7691 days Inclination- 0.050° Eccentricity- 0.0041 Year of Discovery- 1610, Padua Discoverer- Galileo Galilei Group- Galilean

Europa

Mean Diameter- 3,121.6 Km Mass- 4.8 x 1022 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 671,034 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +3.5512 days Inclination- 0.471° Eccentricity- 0.0094 Year of Discovery- 1610, Padua Discoverer- Galileo Galilei Group- Galilean

Amalthea

Mean Diameter- 167 Km Mass- 2.08 x 1018 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 181,366 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +11h 57m 23s Inclination- 0.374° Eccentricity- 0.0032 Year of Discovery- 1892, Lick Observatory San Jose California Discoverer- E. E. Barnard Group- Inner

Himalia

Diameter- 170 Km Mass- 6.7 x 1018 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 11,451,971 Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +250.23 days Inclination- 30.486° Eccentricity- 0.1513 Year of Discovery- 1904, Lick Observatory San Jose California Discoverer- Charles Dillon Perrine Group- Himalia

Thebe

Diameter- 116×98×84 Km Mass- 4.3 x 1017 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 221,889 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +16h 11m 17s Inclination- 1.076° Eccentricity- 0.0175 Year of Discovery- 1979 Voyager 1 Flyby Discoverer- Stephen P. Synnott Group- Inner

Elara

Diameter- 86 Km Mass- 8.7 x 1017 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 11,778,034 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +257.62 days Inclination- 29.691° Eccentricity- 0.1948 Year of Discovery- 1905, Lick Observatory San Jose California Discoverer- Charles Dillon Perrine Group- Himalia

Pasiphaë

Diameter- 60 Km Mass- 3 x 1017 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,609,042 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −739.80 days Inclination- 141.803° Eccentricity- 0.3743 Year of Discovery- 1908, Royal Greenwich Observatory Discoverer- P. J. Melotte Group- Pasiphaë

Metis

Diameter- 60×40×34 Km Mass- 3.6 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis 127,690 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +7h 4m 29s Inclination- 0.06° Eccentricity- 0.00002 Year of Discovery- 1979 Voyager 1 Flyby Discoverer- Stephen P. Synnott Group- Inner

Carme

Diameter- 46 Km Mass- 1.3 x 1017 Km Semi-Major Axis - 23,197,992 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −763.95 days Inclination- 165.047° Eccentricity- 0.2342 Year of Discovery- 1938, Mount Wilson Observatory Los Angeles County, California Discoverer- S. B. Nicholson Group- Carme

Sinope

Diameter- 38 Km Mass- 7.5 x 1016 Km Semi-Major Axis - 24,057,865 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −739.33 Days Inclination- 153.778° Eccentricity- 0.2750 Year of Discovery- 1914, Mount Wilson Observatory Los Angeles County, California Discoverer- S. B. Nicholson Group- Pasiphaë

Lysithea

Diameter- 36 Km Mass- 6.3 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 11,740,560 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +259.89 Days Inclination- 27.006° Eccentricity- 0.1322 Year of Discovery- 1938, Mount Wilson Observatory Los Angeles County, California Discoverer- S.B. Nicholson Group- Himalia

Ananke

Diameter- 28 Km Mass- 3.0 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 21,454,952 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −640.38 days Inclination- 151.564° Eccentricity- 0.3445 Year of Discovery- 1951, Mount Wilson Observatory Los Angeles County, California Discoverer- S.B. Nicholson Group- Ananke

Adrastea

Diameter- 20×16×14 Km Mass- 0.2 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis 128,690 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +7h 9m 30s Inclination- 0.03° Eccentricity- 0.0015 Year of Discovery- 1979 Voyager 2 Flyby Discoverer- D.C. Jewitt Group- Inner

Leda

Diameter- 16 Km Mass- 0.6 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 11,187,781 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +240.82 days Inclination- 27.562° Eccentricity- 0.1673 Year of Discovery- 1974, Mount Palomar Observatory, California Discoverer- Charles T. Kowal Group- Himalia

Callirrhoe

Diameter- 9 Km Mass- 0.087 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,214,986 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −727.11 days Inclination- 139.849° Eccentricity- 0.2582 Year of Discovery- 2000, Spacewatch Kitt Peak National Observatory Discoverer- Spahr, Scotti Group- Pasiphaë

Themisto

Diameter- 8 Km Mass- 0.069 x 1016 Semi-Major Axis - 7,393,216 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +129.87 days Inclination- 45.762° Eccentricity- 0.2115 Year of Discovery- 1975/ 2000 Discoverer- Kowal & Roemer/ Sheppard, Jewitt et.al Group- Thermisto

Praxidike

Diameter- 7 Km Mass- 0.043 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 20,823,948 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −613.90 days Inclination- 144.205° Eccentricity- 0.1840 Year of Discovery- 2000, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Iocaste

Diameter- 5 Km Mass- 0.019 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 20,722,566 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −609.43 days Inclination- 147.248° Eccentricity- 0.2874 Year of Discovery- 2001, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott. S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Taygete

Diameter- 5 Km Mass- 1.6 x 1014 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,438,648 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −686.67 days Inclination- 164.890° Eccentricity- 0.3678 Year of Discovery- 2001, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Kalyke

Diameter- 5 Km Mass- 1.9 x 1014 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,180,773 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −721.02 Inclination- 165.505° Eccentricity- 0.2139 Year of Discovery- 2001, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Megaclite

Diameter- 5 Km Mass- 0.021 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 24,687,239 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −792.44 days Inclination- 150.398° Eccentricity- 0.3077 Year of Discovery- 2001, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

S/2000 J 11

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 12,570,424 Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +287.93 days Inclination- 27.584° Eccentricity- 0.2058 Year of Discovery- 2001, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Himalia

Helike

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 20,540,266 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −601.40 days Inclination- 154.586° Eccentricity- 0.1374 Year of Discovery- 2003 Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Harpalyke

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 0.012 x 1016 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 21,063,814 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −624.54 days Inclination- 147.223° Eccentricity- 0.2440 Year of Discovery- 2001, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard Group- Ananke

Hermippe

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 21,182,086 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −629.81 Inclination- 151.242° Eccentricity- 0.2290 Year of Discovery- 2002, University of Hawaii Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Thyone

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 21,405,570 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −639.8 days Inclination- 147.276° Eccentricity- 0.2525 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Chaldene

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 7 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,713,444 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −699.33 Inclination- 167.07° Eccentricity- 0.2916 Year of Discovery- 2001, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Aoede

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,044,175 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −714.66 days Inclination- 160.482° Eccentricity- 0.6011 Year of Discovery- 2003 Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

Eukelade

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,483,694 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −735.20 days Inclination- 163.996° Eccentricity- 0.2828 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Isonoe

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 7.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,800,647 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −750.13 days Inclination- 165.127° Eccentricity- 0.1775 Year of Discovery- 2001, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

S/2003 J 5

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,973,926 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −758.34 days Inclination- 165.549° Eccentricity- 0.307 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Autonoe

Diameter- 4 Km Mass- 9 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 24,264,445 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −772.17 days Inclination- 151.058° Eccentricity- 0.3690 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

Carpo

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 17,144,873 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) +458.62 days Inclination- 56.001° Eccentricity- 0.2735 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carpo

Euanthe

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Km Semi-Major Axis - 20,464,854 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −598.09 days Inclination- 143.409° Eccentricity- 0.2 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Aitne

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,285,161 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −679.64 days Inclination- 165.562° Eccentricity- 0.3927 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Erinome

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,986,266 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −711.96 days Inclination- 163.737° Eccentricity- 0.2552 Year of Discovery- 2001, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Eurydome

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,230,858 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −723.36 days Inclination- 149.324° Eccentricity- 0.3769 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

Hegemone

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,702,511 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −745.5 days Inclination- 152.506° Eccentricity- 0.4077 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

Arche

Diameter- 3 Km Mass- 4.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,717,051 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −746.19 days Inclination- 164.587° Eccentricity- 0.1492 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Euporie

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 19,088,434 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −538.78 days Inclination- 144.694° Eccentricity- 0.0960 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

S/2003 J 3

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 19,621,780 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −561.52 days Inclination- 146.363° Eccentricity- 0.2507 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

S/2003 J 18

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 19,812,577 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −569.73 days Inclination- 147.401° Eccentricity- 0.1569 Year of Discovery- 2003, Mauna Kea, Hawaii Discoverer- Brett J. Gladman et al. Group- Ananke

Thelxinoe

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 20,453,753 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −597.61 days Inclination- 151.292° Eccentricity- 0.2684 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

Orthosie

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 20,567,971 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −602.62 days Inclination- 142.366° Eccentricity- 0.2433 Year of Discovery- 2002 Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

S/2003 J 16

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 20,743,779 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −610.36 days Inclination- 150.769° Eccentricity- 0.3184 Year of Discovery- 2003, Mauna Kea, Hawaii Discoverer- Brett J. Gladman et al. Group- Ananke

Mneme

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 21,129,786 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −627.48 Days Inclination- 149.732° Eccentricity- 0.3169 Year of Discovery- 2003, Mauna Kea, Hawaii Discoverer- Brett.J. Gladman et al. Group- Ananke

Herse

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,134,306 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −672.75 days Inclination- 162.490° Eccentricity- 0.2379 Year of Discovery- 2003, Mauna Kea, Hawaii Discoverer- Brett. J.Gladman et al. Group- Carme

S/2003 J 19

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,709,061 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −699.12 days Inclination- 164.727° Eccentricity- 0.1961 Year of Discovery- 2003, Mauna Kea, Hawaii Discoverer- Brett.J. Gladman et al. Group- Carme

S/2003 J 15

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,720,999 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −699.68 days Inclination- 141.812° Eccentricity- 0.0932 Year of Discovery- 2003 Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Ananke

S/2003 J 10

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,730,813 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −700.13 days Inclination- 163.813° Eccentricity- 0.3438 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

S/2003 J 23

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 22,739,654 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −700.54 days Inclination- 148.849° Eccentricity- 0.393 Year of Discovery- 2004, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

Kallichore

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,111,823 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −717.81 days Inclination- 164.605° Eccentricity- 0.2041 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

S/2010 J 1

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- -- Semi-Major Axis - 23,314,335 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −722.83 days Inclination- 163.2° Eccentricity- 0.32 Year of Discovery- 2010, Palomar Observatory Discoverer- Jacobson et al. Group- Pasiphaë

S/2003 J 4

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,570,790 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −739.29 days Inclination- 147.175° Eccentricity- 0.3003 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

Sponde

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 24,252,627 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −771.60 days Inclination- 154.372° Eccentricity- 0.4431 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Pasiphaë

S/2003 J 2

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 30,290,846 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −1077.02 Inclination- 153.521° Eccentricity- 0.1882 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al.

S/2003 J 12

Diameter- 1 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 17,739,539 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −482.69 days Inclination- 142.680° Eccentricity- 0.4449 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al.

S/2011 J 1

Diameter- 1 Km Mass- -- Semi-Major Axis - 20,155,290 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −582.22 days Inclination- 162.8° Eccentricity- 0.2963 Year of Discovery- 2011, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al.

S/2010 J 2

Diameter- 1 Km Mass- -- Semi-Major Axis - 20,307,150 Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −588.36 days Inclination- 150.4° Eccentricity- 0.307 Year of Discovery- 2010, Mauna Kea, Hawaii Discoverer- Christian Veillet Group- Ananke

Pasithee

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,307,318 Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −726.93 days Inclination- 165.759° Eccentricity- 0.3288 Year of Discovery- 2002, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Cyllene

Diameter- 2 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1013 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,396,269 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −731.10 days Inclination- 140.148° Eccentricity- 0.4115 Year of Discovery- 2003, Hawaii University Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

S/2003 J 9

Diameter- 1 Km Mass- 1.5 x 1012 Kg Semi-Major Axis - 23,857,808 Km Orbital Period (In Earth Days) −752.84 days Inclination- 164.98° Eccentricity- 0.2761 Year of Discovery- 2003 Discoverer- Scott.S. Sheppard et al. Group- Carme

Among these satellites, some have not been named yet and are therefore known by an alphanumeric code. Some of them have even gone missing after first detection. It is believed that Jupiter might have had many more satellites in the past, which have now been destroyed to form the thin ring that surrounds it.

Eight of these satellites are regular and have prograde motion (they orbit in the same direction as the planet rotates). The rest display retrograde motion. By regular, we mean that these planets have orbits close to Jupiter and have a low inclination with respect to Jupiter's equatorial radius.

These may be Jupiter's satellites that formed in situ, along with the planet, while the rest might be captured satellites. Rest of the 59 satellites are irregular. In a sense that they have retrograde orbit in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation and prograde orbits of very high eccentricity and pronounced inclination from Jupiter's equatorial plane.

While the largest four of the satellites were discovered by one of the pioneers of modern astronomy, Galileo Galilei in 1610, the rest were discovered much later with terrestrial telescopes and space probes. The largest of all 66 moons is Ganymede, with a diameter of 3,270 miles - a satellite is larger than Mercury.

The rest of the three Galilean moons have a diameter of more than 1,900 miles. All these four satellites are spheroidal in shape, largely because of the high tidal gravitational pull of Jupiter. Besides these big four satellites, the rest are less than 160 miles in diameter, with majority of them having a diameter around 1 to 3 miles.

Most of these moons have been captured by the planet. Future space exploration initiatives will be aimed at studying the Galilean moon Europa, which has been found to have conditions favorable for emergence of life. In fact, it may already be harboring life.

Jupiter's family of moons may have many more secrets waiting to be revealed. Someday, one of them may become an outpost for space explorers as humanity takes the leap from the cradle of planet Earth to spread throughout the solar system and eventually the galaxy.