Galileo upended science Oct 25, 2009
More critically, he discovered the four inner satellites of Jupiter still known as the "Galilean moons" today, in his honour and learnt that Venus, Earth's closest planet, goes through a full range of phases. Put together, his observations validated the revolutionary theory of Nicolaus Copernicus that Earth orbits the Sun, and not the other way round. (iAfrica.com)
Groovy Ganymede: New Map Helps Reveal Origins of Mysterious Features on Solar System's Biggest Moon Sep 30, 2009
The orbital resonance of Jupiter's inner three Galilean moons is what fuels volcanic eruptions on Io and makes Europa a potentially hospitable place for life. Ganymede, however, is the only satellite in this resonance with a surface that bears historical evidence of the system's history, avoiding erasure by continuous tectonic and volcanic activity as is the case on the other moons. (Scientific American)
Jupiters moons vanish from view Sep 3, 2009
Here's where the four Galilean moons will be at that moment. Io will be occulted by Jupiter's disk and then will move into Jupiter's shadow to undergo an eclipse, with no sunlight falling on it to reflect to our telescopes. (MSNBC -- Technology)
Target Europa: Ambitious Plans Aim for Jupiter's Ocean Moon Sep 2, 2009
BEGGING FOR EXPLORATION: Three of Jupiter's four Galilean moons separately imaged by the Pluto-bound New Horizons spacecraft in February 2007 ... An elaborate choreography of multiple will play out among Jupiter and its Galilean moons in the decade of the 2020s, if plans now taking shape at NASA and other space agencies get the go-ahead in the next several years. (Scientific American)
Jupiter Without Moons Aug 30, 2009
It's quite common for one of the four Galilean moons be hidden, and it's not rare to see only two moons. But only a few times in a century do all four moons hide simultaneously behind or in front of Jupiter. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
• Skywatch: Test your optics against Jupiter's disappearing moons Aug 27, 2009
Jupiter's equator is tilted just three degrees from its orbital plane, and the Galilean moons' orbits are all within one degree of the planet's equator ... By the time the sky is dark enough for the moons to be visible in your optics both Io (innermost of the Galilean moons) and Callisto (outermost) will be hiding behind the planet's disk. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
> read more Jul 31, 2009
But by amazing good luck, 45 Cap will be masquerading as a fifth moon during a particularly eventful period for Jupiter's Galilean moons. So weather permitting, every telescope owner on Earth will have a chance to see many fascinating events during the days before and after the occultation. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
All S&T Observing Blogs Jul 5, 2009
com - Observing Blog. Contributor Guidelines. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Spot Titan's Shadow on Saturn! Apr 18, 2009
Saturn is about twice Jupiter's distance from us, however, and only Titan is a match for Jupiter's Galilean moons in terms of size. Nevertheless, notes Belgian astronomer Jean Meeus, the classic guidebook Saturn by A. F. O. Alexander describes Titan's shadow on Saturn being seen "quite easily" in a small refractor as early as 1862. (SkyAndTelescope.com)
Jupiter in space agencies' sights Feb 19, 2009
Major targets here would be the Galilean moons Europa and Ganymede. Scientists have long dreamed of visiting Europa with sophisticated instrumentation. (BBC News -- Americas)
Outer planets choice is narrowed Feb 19, 2009
Major targets here would be the Galilean moons Europa and Ganymede. Europa in particular has long been at the top of scientists' wish lists to visit with sophisticated instrumentation. (BBC News -- Science)
