BellaOnline Forums Education Astronomy Moons of the Giant Planets - Quiz

The moons of the giant outer planets have turned out to be stranger and more interesting than anyone had imagined. What do you know about the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune? Try the quiz – then you can check your answers, and learn more about the moons.

Moons of the Giant Planets - Quiz

Solar System moons are named from mythology. Except for Uranus - its moons are named from English literature, primarily Shakespeare. How did this come about and what is the connection with the moons of Saturn?

Literary Moons of Uranus

Astronomy Now shows what we know about the structure and magnetic field of Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon. (2015/03/13/)

The magnetic field lines around Ganymede are generated in the iron core. [Image credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI)]

Interior of Ganymede, based on theoretical models, in-situ observations by NASA’s Galileo orbiter, and Hubble Space Telescope observations of the moon’s aurorae, which allows for a probe of the moon’s interior. Ices and a saline ocean dominate the outer layers. A denser rock mantle lies deeper in the moon, and finally an iron core beneath that. [Image credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI)]

At one time, no one seriously thought that a good place to look for life in the Solar System would be the icy moons of the giant planets. But since our spacecraft have visited them, all that has changed. Enceladus and Europa are now considered good possibilities. They have the basics at least: water, organic molecules, and an energy source.

Saturn lies in the outer Solar System, ten times farther away from the Sun than Earth is. It's best known for its fabulous ring system, but it also has an amazing system of moons including ring shepherds and a moon that could possibly sustain primitive life.

Fascinating Facts about Saturn's Moons