Lecture 33: Moons of the Solar System

These flashcards highlight key terms and concepts covered in the lecture about the moons of the solar system and their geological activity.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving air caused by Earth's rotation, influencing wind patterns on Jupiter.

Ring Systems

Collections of many small particles orbiting a planet, all four Jovian planets have their own ring systems.

Galilean Moons

The four largest moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, known for their significant geological activity.

Tidal Heating

The process by which the gravitational pull from a larger body causes internal heat and geological activity in a moon.

Saturn's Rings

Composed of numerous tiny particles that orbit around Saturn's equator and appear as thin layers in telescopic views.

Titan

The largest moon of Saturn, notable for having a thick atmosphere primarily composed of nitrogen.

Captured Asteroids

Small moons like Phobos and Deimos that likely originated in the asteroid belt and were captured by Mars.

Small Moons

Moons less than 300 km in size, typically potato-shaped and lacking sufficient gravity to be spherical.

Ice Fountains

Eruptions of water vapor and ice particles from moons, particularly seen in Enceladus, suggesting a subsurface ocean.

Europa's Surface

Characterized by iced plates that have cracked, indicating tidal heating may be causing subsurface water.