Planetary Moons

Question 0

Phobos and Deimos

Answer 0

Moons of Mars. Discovered by Asaph Hall in 1877. Named for children of Ares and Aphrodite. Phobos is larger and sets twice daily.

Question 1

Ganymede

Answer 1

Galilean moon of Jupiter. Largest in solar system and has its own magnetosphere. Named for male lover of Jupiter.

Question 2

Io

Answer 2

Galilean moon of Jupiter. Densest and most volcanically active.

Question 3

Titan

Answer 3

Largest moon of Saturn and second largest in solar system. Dense atmosphere, surface liquid. Most likely place for life.

Question 4

Iapetus

Answer 4

Third-largest moon of Saturn. Discovered by Giovanni Cassini in 1671. Named for sibling of Cronos. Two-toned appearance.

Question 5

Titania and Oberon

Answer 5

Moons of Uranus. Discovered by William Herschel in 1787 after he found Uranus in 1781.

Question 6

Triton and Nereid

Answer 6

Moons of Neptune. Triton is the only moon with retrograde orbit. Reached by Voyager 2. Nereid has most eccentric orbit.

Question 7

Europa

Answer 7

Galilean moon of Jupiter. May harbor life.

Question 8

Charon

Answer 8

Moon of Pluto. Discovered in 1978. Pronounced “SHAHR-en” in honor of the finder’s wife. Largest moon relative to the size of its orbiting planet.