Ganymede

Category: Science & Technology → Space → Solar System

Key Points

  • Ganymede is the largest moon of Jupiter.

  • It is the largest natural satellite in the Solar System.

  • It is larger in diameter than Mercury, although Mercury has considerably greater mass.

  • Ganymede is unique because it has its own intrinsic magnetic field.

  • It has a differentiated structure:

    • Metallic iron-rich core

    • Rocky mantle

    • Thick ice layers

  • Evidence indicates the presence of a subsurface ocean beneath its icy shell.

  • It was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610.

  • NASA's Juno mission has made observations of Ganymede; ESA's JUICE mission is particularly important for studying Jupiter's icy moons.

  • Recent observations continue to investigate Ganymede's subsurface ocean and surface composition.

Prelims trap: Ganymede is a moon, not a planet or dwarf planet.