Transcript The Moons of the Giants

Astrophysics Presentation
Elon University Spring 2010
Jessica Jackson
Is There Life on the Moons of
the Gas Giants?
Jupiter’s Galilean Moons
Io
Europa
Ganymede
Callisto
How did moons come about?
• Formed systematically with Jupiter
• Possibly formed from sub nebula
around Jupiter
Why isn’t Jupiter a star?
Jupiter:
89% hydrogen
11% helium
Sun:
78% hydrogen
19.8% helium
Mass!
Sun produces heat energy from fusion.
Sun’s core
= 60,000,000 °C
Jupiter’s core = 33,000 °C
Jupiter would need to be 60X more massive to
be a star.
Jupiter’s Io
Iron-rich core, silicate mantle and crust
Entirely molten at least once
JJupiter’s Europa
Layer of liquid-water below Europa’s surface
Saturn’s Titan
Huygens Probe Discoveries
Wind speeds up to 210 m/s
Atmospheric pressure is 1.5 atm
Temperature 93 K
Nitrogen 87%-99%
Methane 1%-6%
Argon
0%-6%
Liquid water on Titan?
No, but methane
Saturn’s Enceladus
Saturn’s
Mimas
Herschel
Crater
Uranus’ Miranda