Of Jupiter's moons, eight are regular satellites with prograde and nearly circular orbits that are not greatly inclined with respect to Jupiter's equatorial plane. The Galilean satellites are nearly spherical in shape due to their planetary mass, and so would be considered planets if they were in direct orbit around the Sun. The other four regular satellites are much smaller and closer to Jupiter; these serve as sources of the dust that makes up Jupiter's rings. The remainder of Jupiter's moons are irregular satellites whose prograde and retrograde orbits are much farther from Jupiter and have high inclinations and eccentricities. These moons were probably captured by Jupiter from solar orbits. Sixteen irregular satellites have been discovered since 2003 and have not yet been named.
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| - Of Jupiter's moons, eight are regular satellites with prograde and nearly circular orbits that are not greatly inclined with respect to Jupiter's equatorial plane. The Galilean satellites are nearly spherical in shape due to their planetary mass, and so would be considered planets if they were in direct orbit around the Sun. The other four regular satellites are much smaller and closer to Jupiter; these serve as sources of the dust that makes up Jupiter's rings. The remainder of Jupiter's moons are irregular satellites whose prograde and retrograde orbits are much farther from Jupiter and have high inclinations and eccentricities. These moons were probably captured by Jupiter from solar orbits. Sixteen irregular satellites have been discovered since 2003 and have not yet been named.
- Jupiter, at latest count has 66 known moons (with 4 "smaller planets"), sometimes ensnaring some asteroids and comets to get more moons, and occasionaly using some of its moons as weapons to pound other planets. 63 of them are thought to be captured comets and asteroids due to their and irregular shape. However, 4 of the moons are large and spherical and if they directly orbited the Sun, they would count as planets. In fact, Jupiter and its system of moons may be a counterfeit system to our Solar System. The 4 large moons are called the Galilean moons, in honor of their discoverer, Galilieo Galilei. The most recent moon discovered is irregularry shaped moon callled S/2011 J2 and lacks the mass to pull itself into a spherical shape. There may be more moons waiting to be discovered.
- Eight of Jupiter's moons are regular satellites, with prograde and nearly circular orbits that are not greatly inclined with respect to Jupiter's equatorial plane. The Galilean satellites are spheroidal in shape, and so would be considered dwarf planets if they were in direct orbit about the Sun. The other four regular satellites are much smaller and closer to Jupiter; these serve as sources of the dust that makes up Jupiter's rings.
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abstract
| - Eight of Jupiter's moons are regular satellites, with prograde and nearly circular orbits that are not greatly inclined with respect to Jupiter's equatorial plane. The Galilean satellites are spheroidal in shape, and so would be considered dwarf planets if they were in direct orbit about the Sun. The other four regular satellites are much smaller and closer to Jupiter; these serve as sources of the dust that makes up Jupiter's rings. Jupiter's other 54 or 55 moons are tiny irregular satellites, whose prograde and retrograde orbits are much farther from Jupiter and have high inclinations and eccentricities. These moons were likely captured by Jupiter from solar orbits. There are 13 recently-discovered irregular satellites that have not yet been named, plus a 14th whose orbit has not yet been established.
- Of Jupiter's moons, eight are regular satellites with prograde and nearly circular orbits that are not greatly inclined with respect to Jupiter's equatorial plane. The Galilean satellites are nearly spherical in shape due to their planetary mass, and so would be considered planets if they were in direct orbit around the Sun. The other four regular satellites are much smaller and closer to Jupiter; these serve as sources of the dust that makes up Jupiter's rings. The remainder of Jupiter's moons are irregular satellites whose prograde and retrograde orbits are much farther from Jupiter and have high inclinations and eccentricities. These moons were probably captured by Jupiter from solar orbits. Sixteen irregular satellites have been discovered since 2003 and have not yet been named.
- Jupiter, at latest count has 66 known moons (with 4 "smaller planets"), sometimes ensnaring some asteroids and comets to get more moons, and occasionaly using some of its moons as weapons to pound other planets. 63 of them are thought to be captured comets and asteroids due to their and irregular shape. However, 4 of the moons are large and spherical and if they directly orbited the Sun, they would count as planets. In fact, Jupiter and its system of moons may be a counterfeit system to our Solar System. The 4 large moons are called the Galilean moons, in honor of their discoverer, Galilieo Galilei. The most recent moon discovered is irregularry shaped moon callled S/2011 J2 and lacks the mass to pull itself into a spherical shape. There may be more moons waiting to be discovered.
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