Callisto is the outermost of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter.
It orbits at a distance of approximately 26 radius of Jupiter.
This is significantly larger than the orbital radius of the next-closest Galilean satellite, Ganymede.
As a result of this relatively distant orbit, Callisto does not participate in the mean-motion resonance in which the three inner Galilean satellites are locked
and probably never has.
Like most other regular planetary moons, Callisto's rotation is locked to be synchronous with
its orbit. The length of Callisto's day, simultaneously its orbital period, is about 16.7 Earth days.
Its orbit is very slightly eccentric and inclined to the Jovian equator, with the eccentricity and inclination
changing quasi-periodically due to solar and planetary gravitational perturbations on a timescale of centuries.
The ranges of change are 0.0072–0.0076 and 0.20–0.60°, respectively.
These orbital variations cause the axial tilt to vary between 0.4 and 1.6°.
The dynamical isolation of Callisto means that it has never been appreciably tidally heated,
which has important consequences for its internal structure and evolution. Its distance from
Jupiter also means that the charged-particle flux from Jupiter's magnetosphere at its surface
is relatively low about 300 times lower than, for example, that at Europa.
Hence, unlike the other Galilean moons, charged-particle irradiation has had a relatively minor effect on Callisto's surface.
The radiation level at Callisto's surface is equivalent to a dose of about 0.01 rem (0.1 mSv) per day, which is over ten times higher than Earth's average background radiation.
Version:2.4.1
Callisto is the outermost of the four Galilean moons of Jupiter.
It orbits at a distance of approximately 26 radius of Jupiter.
This is significantly larger than the orbital radius of the next-closest Galilean satellite, Ganymede.
As a result of this relatively distant orbit, Callisto does not participate in the mean-motion resonance in which the three inner Galilean satellites are locked
and probably never has.
Like most other regular planetary moons, Callisto's rotation is locked to be synchronous with
its orbit. The length of Callisto's day, simultaneously its orbital period, is about 16.7 Earth days.
Its orbit is very slightly eccentric and inclined to the Jovian equator, with the eccentricity and inclination
changing quasi-periodically due to solar and planetary gravitational perturbations on a timescale of centuries.
The ranges of change are 0.0072–0.0076 and 0.20–0.60°, respectively.
These orbital variations cause the axial tilt to vary between 0.4 and 1.6°.
The dynamical isolation of Callisto means that it has never been appreciably tidally heated,
which has important consequences for its internal structure and evolution. Its distance from
Jupiter also means that the charged-particle flux from Jupiter's magnetosphere at its surface
is relatively low about 300 times lower than, for example, that at Europa.
Hence, unlike the other Galilean moons, charged-particle irradiation has had a relatively minor effect on Callisto's surface.
The radiation level at Callisto's surface is equivalent to a dose of about 0.01 rem (0.1 mSv) per day, which is over ten times higher than Earth's average background radiation.
| Role | Person | StartDate | StopDate | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | PrincipalInvestigator | spase://CNES/Person/CDPP-AMDA/NAIF |
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mlat=10.31°xcos(196.61°-lon_iau_west)+lat_iau