Table of Contents

• Overview of Callisto Facts
• Latest Callisto Science Findings
• Callisto Images
• Missions Exploring Callisto
• Educational Activities and Resources
• The Mythology of Jupiter and Its Satellites
• The Discovery of the Galilean Satellites
• Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) about Callisto
• Resources
• Links to Related Sites

Overview of Callisto Facts Callisto Quick-Look Statistics

 
Discovery:                             Jan 7, 1610 by Galileo Galilei
Diameter (km):                         4,806 
Mass (kg):                             1.077e23
Mass (Earth = 1)                       1.807e-02
Surface Gravity (Earth = 1):           0.127 
Mean Distance from Jupiter (km):       1,883,000 
Mean Distance From Jupiter (Rj):       26.6 
Mean Distance from Sun (AU):           5.203 
Orbital period (days):                 16.68902 
Rotational period  (days):             16.68902 
Density (gm/cm?3)                      1.86 
Orbit Eccentricity:                    0.007 
Orbit Inclination (degrees):           0.281 
Orbit Speed (km/sec):                  8.21 
Escape velocity (km/sec):              2.45 
Visual Albedo:                         0.19
Subsolar Temperature (K)               168
Equatorial Subsurface Temperature (K)  126
Surface Composition:                   Dirty Ice 


A Summary of Facts about Callisto

Latest Callisto Science Findings Interior Structure

• Jupiter's Moon Callisto May Hide Salty Ocean (October 21, 1998)
• Galileo Mission Finds Strange Interior of Callisto (June 4, 1998)
• Galileo Returns New Insights into Callisto and Europa (May 23, 1997)

Surface Composition

• New Jupiter Findings: Oxygen at Callisto's Surface, Sulfur Dioxide Sources at Io (December 10, 1997)

Frequently Asked Questions about Callisto

Callisto Images

• Galileo Images
  • Global Clickable Maps (Organized by location)
  • Image Tables Organized by Features and Orbit
• Bulletin Boards and Stickers
• Galileo at Jupiter Educator's Slide Set, Volume 2
• Images from Other missions
  • Voyager
  • Hubble Space Telescope
  • Pioneer 11
• Animation of the Jovian System as Viewed From Earth (Java Applet)
• Callisto Flyby Animations (computer generated)
  Look here for information on how to setup your browser for animations.
  • Callisto 3 Flyby (November 4, 1996).
  • Callisto 9 Flyby (June 25, 1997).
  • Callisto 10 Flyby (September 17, 1997).
  • Callisto 20 Flyby (May 9, 1999).
  • Callisto 21 Flyby (June 30, 1999).
  • Callisto 22 Flyby (August 14, 1999).
  • Callisto 23 Flyby (September 16, 1999).
• Callisto Doppler Plots
  • Callisto 9 Flyby (June 25, 1997).
  • Callisto 10 Flyby (September 17, 1997).

• Galileo Europa Mission (GEM): Dec. 1997 - Dec. 1999
• Previous Galileo Orbits
• Galileo Nominal Mission: Dec. 1995 - Dec. 1997

Educational Activities and Resources

• Activities:
  • Planets and Satellites (Overview of our solar system and the Jovian system)
  • Planetary Surfaces
  • More activities
• Galileo K-12 Educator's Resources
• Bulletin Boards and Stickers
• The Jovian system as viewed from Earth (Java Applet)
• Frequently Asked Questions about Callisto

The Mythology of Jupiter and it's Satellites

The planets and moons in our solar system are all named for characters in Greek and Roman mythology. Here are some stories and artwork about the namesakes of Jupiter and the Galilean satellites.

USGS Callisto Nomenclature page

The Discovery of the Galilean Satellites

Find out how Galileo Galilei discovered the moons around Jupiter.

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)

• General Galileo FAQ's
• Online From Jupiter FAQ (April 6, 1997)
• Galileo Webchats

Resources

• Ask Galileo A Question
• Definitions and Acronyms
• Subscribe to the Galileo Mailing List!

Links to Related Sites

• Galileo homepage at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Galileo Callisto Mission webpage at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Galileo homepage at the DLR in Germany
• Galileo Probe
  • Probe Team at Ames Research Center
• Galileo Orbiter
  • DDS - Dust Detector
  • EPD - Energetic Particles Detector Team
  • HIC - Heavy Ion Counter
  • MAG - Galileo Magnetometer Team
  • NIMS - Near Infrared Mapping Spectrometer
  • PLS - Galileo Plasma Particle Investigation
  • PWS - University of Iowa Space Plasma Wave Group
  • SSI - Solid State Imaging Team
  • UVS/EUV - Ultraviolet Spectrometer/Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer Experiment
• Space Science Background Information
  • NASA's Spacelink
  • The Nine Planets
  • Views of the Solar System
  • NASA's Planetary Photojournal