12/6/2023 0 Comments Tidal heating triton![]() ![]() Still, the mean density of 2.06 grams per cubic cm remains higher than that of any of Saturn’s or Uranus’ moons. This lower density stems predominantly from the water-ice interior encasing a denser rock core. ![]() This icy surface has resulted in ice based natural satellite displaying temperatures in the region of – 235 degrees Celsius. However, we know that its mass is far less than the first estimates suggested because data from Voyager showed that the surface is icy and highly reflective, a less dense composition than the dark surface of our moon. The diameter of Triton is approximately 2,706km, making it a similar size to Earth’s moon. Triton is the only major moon in our solar system which orbits in the opposite direction of its planet’s rotation.įirst discovered on 10th October 1846 (just 17 days after the discovery of its planet, Neptune) by British astronomer William Lassell, “Triton” comes from a merman in Greek myth a name which perhaps stems from the composition of this faraway moon. Triton is the largest moon of Neptune, whose most unusual feature is its retrograde orbit. But due to the intense volcanic activity, the lava flows can reach temperatures of 1649 degrees Celsius, which is far hotter than anything on Earth. Sitting 778,000,000km from the Sun, the surface temperature of this planet sits around -130 degrees Celsius. ![]() Io orbits Jupiter from a distance of around 422,000km, with an orbit that takes 42.5 hours to complete. Silicate rock could also be a likely component as it would account for the high temperatures. While the complete makeup of Io’s surface is not yet defined, theories suggest that its main component could be sulfur and sulfur compounds because of the varied coloring. Because of this, the surface of Io experiences a constant state of renewal sites once home to large craters are slowly filled with molten lava and liquid rock. And this creates extreme tidal forces.Ī side effect of these tidal forces is heat, which keeps most of Io’s crust in liquid form. Thanks to Io’s proximity to Jupiter, it finds itself caught between the gravity of its planet plus the two nearby moons – Ganymede and Europa. The reason for this intense activity is the tidal heating caused by friction in the moon’s interior. Perhaps the most interesting feature of this lunar body is the 400 active volcanoes on its surface, which make it the most volcanically active object in the Milky Way some of these volcanoes can exude plumes of sulfur to a height of several hundred miles. In addition, Io has the strongest surface gravity of all moons and the least water by atomic ratio compared to any other astronomical object in our solar system. It is the fourth-largest moon in our solar system by size – with a diameter of 3,643km – but has the highest density of all moons in the Milky Way. The Moon Io – also known as Jupiter I – is the third largest of the Galilean moons, which has the closest orbit to Jupiter. ![]()
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