Largest Moon In The Solar System

Moons are the non-planetary objects in our solar system that are also known as natural satellites. Moons orbit planets and asteroids. There are more the 200 moons that are discovered yet. Most of the major planets have moons except mercury and Venus. Some moons are so big that if they were orbiting the sun rather than planets then they would be considered as planets on their own. Following are some of the largest moons in our solar system.

Ganymede

Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system. It is orbiting around planet Jupiter with the diameter of 3,275 miles. This much bigger size makes Ganymede bigger then Mercury Planet. If Ganymede formed in orbit around the sun rather than Jupiter then it would likely to be defined as a planet. Galileo discovered Ganymede in 1601 when he pointed his telescope toward Jupiter and discovered three lights orbiting around Jupiter. Later those lights turn out to be moons and they are known as Galilean Moons of Jupiter. They are visible from earth via telescope and you can clearly see that Ganymede is the largest among them. Ganymede looks just like Earth’s moon from Appearance having heavily cratered and gray colored surface. Ganymede is very unique non-planet in the solar system because it produces its own magnetic field. It is also believed that Ganymede may have an ocean of liquid water beneath its crust.

Titan

Titan is the second largest moon in our solar system and it orbits around Saturn. It had the diameter of 3,200 Miles and it is slightly smaller then Ganymede. It can be considered as planet if it was orbiting the sun rather than orbiting Saturn. Titan was discovered by an astronomer Christiaan Huygenss in 1655. This moon was remained a mystery. In 1944 astronomer Gerard Kuiper Discovered that titan has a significant Atmosphere unlike most moons in our solar system. When scientists explore about titan through various missions and space probes they get to know that the exterior of titan is covered in rivers, streams, lakes and seas. Titan rains liquid methane on the surface. Earth and Titan are only two known worlds in solar system where it rains.

Callisto

Callisto is one of the four largest moons of Jupiter that were discovered by Galileo in 1601. It is located furthest away from the planet and it is the second largest moon of Jupiter. It had the total diameter of 2,995 Miles. The surface of Callisto is heavily cratered. According to the researches Callisto is the oldest known surface in the solar system with the history of 4.5 Billion Years.

Io

Io is the innermost moon of Jupiter and has the diameter of 2,264miles. It was also discovered by Galileo but everything about it was remained a mystery until Voyager Flybys explore it in the late 70s. When scientists take a first good look of Io, they were stunned to see the surface entirely devoid of impact Crater. What is more strange is that the surface of Io is covered with various colors including yellow, red and green. It is the most unique moon in solar system. Io turned out to be Volcanically active world in the solar system with 400 confirmed active volcanoes. It had the internal heat to power hundreds of active volcanoes.

Moon

The fifth largest moon in our solar system is the moon of our planet Earth. Moon is the only natural satellite of planet Earth. Moon is the only satellite in our solar system where humans landed and take a walk. NASA confirmed the presence of water on Moon in 2020. Even though scientists discovered almost everything about our moon but still there are many things that are still waiting to be discovered.