Ganymede

/ˈɡænɪmiːd/ noun

Definition

The largest moon of Jupiter, named after a figure in Greek mythology; the third-largest moon in the entire solar system.

Etymology

Named after Ganymede from Greek mythology, a beautiful young Trojan prince. Italian astronomer Galileo discovered the moon in 1610 and named it after the mythological figure, following a tradition of naming Jupiter's moons after Jupiter's lovers.

Kelly Says

Ganymede is absolutely enormous—it's actually bigger than the planet Mercury! Yet we call it a 'moon' because it orbits Jupiter. It may also have an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy crust, making it a prime location for future searches for extraterrestrial life.

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