Refiner of Gold Creations'

Solar System -- Amalthea

Third Moon of the Fifth Planet
Amalthea: A Moon the Shape of a Football
  • Amalthea is a small moon:
    • 270 by 170 by 155 km (167 by 105 by 96 miles)
    • Shape resembles a football.
    • Long axis pointing toward Jupiter.
    • Amalthea swings like a compass needle in its orbit.
  • Orbits much closer to Jupiter than the Galilean satellites.
  • Revolution about Jupiter takes 12 hours.
  • Red surface coloring.
    • A lighter color may exist beneath surface.
    • Scarlet coloring may be result of sulfur-rich contaminents.
    • These contaminents would be blown from Io by meteroites and volcanic eruptions.
    • Any such debris would spiral toward Jupiter's surface.
    • Some of this would liely be intercepted by Amalthea.
  • Amalthea may be a remnant of a larger body.
    • Rugged, irregular shape indicates this possibility.
    • May have been sculpted by meteorite impacts.
  • Amalthea is a uniquely formed body in our Solar System.

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Refiner of Gold Creations
1998 Solar System Facts
Created by EMC on 6/23/1997. Updated 5/4/2005.