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How big is Callisto?

Callisto is 4,800 kilometers

Introduction

Did you know that there’s a moon in our solar system that’s actually bigger than the planet Mercury? That’s right! The moon is called Callisto and it belongs to Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. Callisto is Jupiter’s second largest moon and the third largest moon in the whole solar system!

Callisto’s Size in Numbers

To understand how big Callisto really is, let’s dive into some numbers. Callisto has a diameter of 4821 kilometers. Now, that might be a bit hard to imagine, so let’s compare it to some things we know. The Earth’s moon, for example, has a diameter of about 3475 kilometers, which means Callisto is about a third larger than our moon! If we compare it to planets, Callisto is as big as the smallest planet in the solar system - Mercury. But it weighs a lot less. Even though they are almost the same size, Callisto is only about a third as heavy as Mercury.

Orbiting Jupiter

Callisto is not just interesting because of its size. It also orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 1,883,000 kilometers. That’s about six times further out than our moon is from Earth. Callisto is the outermost of Jupiter’s four large moons, known as the Galilean moons.

A Peek at Callisto’s Surface

Callisto’s surface is a sight to behold. It is the oldest and most heavily cratered object in the solar system, covered entirely with impact craters. Unlike other moons, Callisto doesn’t show any signs of plate tectonics or volcanism, which means it doesn’t have any mountains or volcanoes.

  • Callisto’s surface features include multi-ring structures, variously shaped impact craters, and chains of craters. - The surface is also made up of small, sparkly frost deposits at the tips of high spots, surrounded by a low-lying, smooth blanket of dark material.
  • Callisto is composed of approximately equal amounts of rock and ices, making its density about 1.83 g/cm3. That’s the lowest density and surface gravity of Jupiter’s major moons.

Life on Callisto?

Because Callisto may have a subsurface ocean of liquid water, some scientists think it’s possible that this moon could harbor life. But for now, that’s just a possibility. Conditions on Callisto are thought to be less favorable for life than on nearby Europa, another of Jupiter’s moons.

Studying Callisto

Various space probes, from Pioneers 10 and 11 to Galileo and Cassini, have studied Callisto. Because of its low radiation levels, Callisto has long been considered the most suitable place for possible future crewed missions to study the Jovian system.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. Callisto, a moon that’s bigger than a planet and possibly home to an ocean. Isn’t space fascinating? The next time you look up at the night sky, remember that even the smallest point of light could be an entire world waiting to be explored.

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