Jupiter and Saturn Lecture Review

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to Jupiter, Saturn, and their moons, as discussed in the lecture.

Ganymede

Third and largest of the Galilean satellites; largest moon in the solar system.

Titan

Second largest moon in the solar system, larger than Mercury, with a dense atmosphere.

Galilean Moons

The four largest moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Callisto

Fourth of the Galilean moons; does not resonate with the other moons.

Orbital Resonance

A gravitational phenomenon where orbiting bodies exert regular, periodic gravitational influence on each other.

Pioneer 10

The first spacecraft to make a close flyby of Jupiter and reach solar escape velocity.

Juno

A NASA satellite that has been in orbit around Jupiter since 2016.

Europa Clipper

A mission planned to study the interior of Europa in more detail.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving objects when viewed in a rotating reference frame.

The Great Red Spot

A persistent high-pressure region producing an anticyclonic storm on Jupiter.

Differentiated Interior

A layered structure within an astronomical body, typically with a core, mantle, and crust.

Cryovolcanism

Volcanic activity that involves the eruption of volatile substances such as water, ammonia, or methane.

Hydrocarbon Seas

Large bodies of liquid hydrocarbons, such as methane and ethane, found on Titan.

Enceladus

A moon of Saturn known for its geysers that eject water ice and vapor into space.

Cassini-Huygens

NASA's orbiter and ESA probe designed to study Saturn and its moons.

Liquid Ethane and Methane

The predominant liquids on Titan's surface, which replace water due to extremely low temperatures.

Great White Spot

A storm on Saturn similar to Jupiter's Great Red Spot, occurring every Saturn year.

Hexagon at Saturn's North Pole

A mysterious hexagonal weather pattern at Saturn's north pole, each side about 9,000 miles long.

Opaque Atmosphere

An atmosphere that does not allow visible light to pass through.

Hydrocarbon Clouds

Clouds composed of hydrocarbons, prominent in Titan's atmosphere.

Jupiter's Magnetic Field

A powerful magnetic field produced by the dynamo effect in Jupiter's metallic hydrogen interior.

Astrobiology

A field of study that explores the origin, evolution, and potential for life elsewhere in the universe.

Ring System

A collection of ice and rock particles orbiting a planet, found in more complexity around Saturn than Jupiter.

Differentiation

The process by which a molten body separates into distinct layers based on density.

Titan's Surface Temperature

Approximately -180° C (-300° F), making it extremely cold.

Surface of Titan

Characterized by lakes and rivers of ethane and methane, unique compared to other celestial bodies.

Pioneer

One of the series of early spacecraft designed for space exploration.

Astrobiological Interest

The study of potential habitats for life beyond Earth, such as on moons like Europa and Titan.

Methane Lakes

Large bodies of liquid methane found on Titan's surface.

Subsurface Ocean

An ocean that lies beneath the icy surface of a celestial body, such as Callisto and Europa.

Planetary Differentiation

The separation of a planetary body into layers of different compositions.

Nuclear Fusion

The process that powers stars, including the Sun, by combining hydrogen nuclei into helium.

Galileo's Observations of Saturn

Early telescope observations that led to the discovery of Saturn's rings.