NASA artist vision of the Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter
EXPLORING THE JUPITER SYSTEM
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Jupiter's moon Ganymede:
The Largest Has Its Own Magnetic Field

Ganymede — the largest moon of Jupiter and, in fact, the largest moon in the Solar System — has its own magnetic field. Internal tidal friction has some surprising effects on the big moon.

The Galileo spacecraft exploring the area around Jupiter revealed that Ganymede has its own magnetic field. The stirring of its molten core of iron sulfide may have generated the magnetic field. Perhaps having been in a slightly different orbit in its past, enough heat from tidal friction may have caused a separation of material inside Ganymede.




Learn more about Jupiter and its moons and rings:

Jupiter Moons Oceans Volcanos Rings Radio
JIMO Galileo Cassini Pioneer Voyager Resources


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