Galilean Satellites and Jovian Energetic Particles
Abstract
The observed infrared temperatures of the four Galilean satellites, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, are inconsistent with their equilibrium temperatures. Since these satellites appear to have little or no atmosphere, the discrepancies may be explained as due to the heating of their surfaces by energetic particles from Jupiter's radiation belts. The required energy fluxes are not entirely unreasonable and decrease with the distance of the satellite orbit from Jupiter.
- Publication:
-
Science
- Pub Date:
- November 1975
- Bibcode:
- 1975Sci...190..564G
- Keywords:
-
- Europa;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- Io;
- Jupiter (Planet);
- Natural Satellites;
- Planetary Temperature;
- Particle Energy;
- Particle Flux Density;
- Planetary Radiation;
- Radiation Belts;
- Surface Temperature;
- Thermodynamic Equilibrium;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration