US EditionGigantic asteroid impact shifted the axis of solar system's biggest moon, study finds
- A significant asteroid impact likely caused Ganymede's rotational axis to shift, as stated in simulations by Hirata. This change affects the moon's mass distribution.
- Hirata expressed a desire to explore Ganymede and other Jupiter moons, noting the need for further investigation into the effects of the giant impact on Ganymede's interior.
- The European Space Agency's JUICE space probe will arrive at Ganymede in 2034, gathering data to address questions about the moon's evolution.
52 Articles
52 Articles
Asteroid 20 times bigger than dinosaur killer altered Ganymede's position
The thought of an asteroid impact is scary enough, let alone witnessing one. One such impact killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, and now it seems another space rock had a dramatic effect on the solar system's largest moon. A study has found that an asteroid 20 times larger than the one that wiped off dinosaurs from the face of Earth struck Jupiter's moon Ganymede some four billion years ago. The strike shifted the moon's axis.
The Solar System's largest moon Ganymede was hit by a huge asteroid four billion years ago. New research shows that the collision was so powerful that the moon's axis was moved, writes CNN.
Asteroid 20x Bigger Than the One That Killed the Dinosaurs Once Hit Jupiter’s Moon
An ancient asteroid is now believed to have hit Jupiter’s moon Ganymede, causing it to shift on its axis 4 billion years ago. The wild part? The asteroid happens to be 20 times larger than the one that wiped out dinosaurs. A recent study explored the impacts that could have created the system of furrows on Jupiter’s moon. Ganymede is the largest moon in the solar system—even bigger than the planet Mercury. It’s also covered in large, deep furro…
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