The happiest movement of Galileo's life - Discovery of Jupiter's Moons

Galileo Galilei is a name in history who has made many big discoveries in astronomy and has also contributed to space research and physics. Galileo loved studying stars and the solar system, but before 1608 there was no such thing as a telescope. Then Galileo used to sit on the ground and draw the location of the planets on the ground, and then he also found out their speed of rotation. Galileo was already a brilliant student.

The first telescope was invented in the year 1608 by HANS LIPPERSHEY who first patented his telescope in the Netherlands, and this was the first mention of a telescope. He said "For seeing things far away, as if they were nearby". Its actual inventor is not known but this line became popular all over Europe. Galileo Galilei, a famous person of that time who used to study stars and planets and had a great interest in geometry, also read this news. He also wanted to make a similar telescope through which he could study the planets. At that time, telescopes were very expensive which he could not afford. So, he started to understand the process of making it. He understood its design and After hearing about the "Danish perspective glass" in 1609, Galileo constructed his own telescope. He subsequently demonstrated the telescope in Venice. His demonstration of the telescope earned him a lifetime lectureship. But for him this was not a matter of joy, it was something else......

He started studying with his telescope, initially it was basic but as he learned more about the lens, he made some improvements to make his observations clearer. He made many historical discoveries with the help of the telescope, he told that the moon is not flat but has steep and mountains just like our earth, and he also studied the orbit and rotation of the planets, he also told that the sun also has spots, and his most important discovery changed the perspective of natural satellites and he also proved that other planets of the solar system also have their own moons. When he was observing such planets, Jupiter came in front of him and he told that when I looked at it carefully, I saw some four rock-like things moving around, and this day was 7 January 1609 when he discovered Jupiter's four moons IO, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto, He didn't name it but he founded it he did not know what it was, then he saw it the next day as well and by then its location had changed, Galileo's statement was that "This is the happiest day of my life", because he had discovered Jupiter's moons with his telescope, and this observation continued like this, he told that I observe it again and again, but due to the poor quality of the telescope at that time, he was able to see four small spheres around an orange sphere, he also submitted a research paper on it in the name of "Messenger". And this was the biggest discovery made by Galileo which gave him the happiest moment of his life.

1. IO

• Distance from Jupiter: Innermost moon (421,700 km)

• Diameter: 3,642 km (slightly larger than Earth's moon)

• Claim to Fame: Most volcanically active body in the solar system

• Surface: Dramatic landscape of active volcanoes, lava flows, and sulfurous plains, constantly changing due to volcanic eruptions.

• Special Features: Io's intense volcanic activity is fueled by tidal heating from Jupiter and its neighboring moons, Europa and Ganymede. The constant tug-of-war between these gravitational forces creates friction within Io's interior, generating immense heat.

• Interesting Fact: Io has a thin atmosphere composed primarily of sulfur dioxide.

2. Europa

• Distance from Jupiter: Second moon from Jupiter (671,034 km)

• Diameter: 3,122 km (slightly smaller than Earth's moon)

• Claim to Fame: Potential harborer of a vast subsurface ocean

• Surface: Icy crust with long, dark streaks thought to be fractures filled with water or slush.

• Special Features: Europa's icy crust is believed to be only about 100 km thick, overlying a massive ocean of liquid water. This internal ocean is thought to be in contact with Europa's rocky mantle, potentially creating conditions favorable for life as we know it.

• Interesting Fact: The plumes of water vapor erupting from Europa's surface hint at the connection between the internal ocean and the icy crust.

3. Ganymede

• Distance from Jupiter: Third moon from Jupiter (1,070,400 km)

• Diameter: 5,268 km (largest moon in our solar system, bigger than Mercury)

• Claim to Fame: Largest moon in the solar system

• Surface: Varied terrain with icy plains, cratered areas, and grooved terrain.

• Special Features: Ganymede has a thin oxygen atmosphere and a complex internal structure, possibly including a salty ocean beneath its icy surface. This ocean is thought to be sandwiched between layers of ice, unlike Europa's ocean which may be in contact with the rocky mantle.

• Interesting Fact: Ganymede has its own magnetic field, a unique feature among moons in our solar system.

4. Callisto

• Distance from Jupiter: Outermost Galilean moon (1,882,700 km)

• Diameter: 4,821 km (third largest moon in the solar system)

• Claim to Fame: Most heavily cratered object in the solar system

• Surface: Heavily cratered icy surface with some evidence of plains and possibly internal oceans.

• Special Features: Callisto's heavily cratered surface suggests it has not undergone much geological activity in its history. However, scientists believe it may also harbor a vast internal ocean, but unlike Europa, its icy surface is likely much thicker, making it more challenging to access.

• Interesting Fact: Callisto has a weak magnetic field, possibly induced by Jupiter's magnetic field.

The Galilean moons continue to be a source of fascination and scientific inquiry. With ongoing missions and future exploration plans, these captivating moons hold the key to unlocking the secrets of Jupiter's system and the potential for life beyond Earth.