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WHAT TO SEE
Two types of region
See if you can spot the difference between Ganymede's two distinct types of terrain. The surface is a mix of rough, dark regions, and lighter areas crossed by grooves and ridges.
Palimpsests
Ganymede is covered in a vast crust of ice. This icy mass moves very gradually, just like a glacier does on Earth.
These glaciers are spotted with craters caused by asteroid impacts. As the ice moves, these craters flatten out. These features are known as 'palimpsests'.
Galilean moons
Ganymede is the third of the four main moons of Jupiter. They are called the 'Galilean moons' because Galileo first spotted them through his telescope in 1610. The other three are called Io, Europa and Callisto.
SPOTTING GANYMEDE FROM THE EARTH
Ganymede looks similar to a small star when viewed through binoculars. Some people also claim they can just about see it with the naked eye.
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TRAVEL INFORMATION
Before you leave
Make sure you have adequate breathing apparatus. Ganymede may have traces of oxygen gas in its atmosphere, but this doesn't mean it's safe to breathe the air.
Ganymede's atmosphere also contains poisonous ozone molecules. These are created when charged particles, trapped in Jupiter's magnetic field, react with Ganymede's icy surface to release toxic ozone.
LOCAL HISTORY
In Greek mythology, Ganymede was a young boy whom Zeus made the cupbearer of the Gods.
Many of Jupiter's moons are named after characters connected with Zeus, the Greek equivalent of the Roman god, Jupiter.
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