(ORDO NEWS) — Callisto, a large moon of Jupiter (≈4,820 kilometers in diameter), is one of the most interesting objects in the solar system.
This is due to at least three factors:
- Callisto is the most distant of the four Galilean satellites, so the surface of the object is constantly bombarded by asteroids. Due to the lack of geological and volcanic activity, Callisto cannot renew its own surface, so craters that are over 4 billion years old have been preserved on the satellite. Analysis of samples collected in the most ancient impact formations can reveal more about the formation of the solar system and, probably, about the origin of life.
- Callisto may have a subsurface liquid water ocean that could be home to extraterrestrial microbial life. It is possible to study this question even with the participation of people.
- In the vicinity of Callisto, there is a low level of background radiation, so the satellite is considered a relatively safe place for colonization. The self-sustaining base on Callisto is humanity’s gateway to the outer solar system.
The color image of Jupiter’s satellite attached to the post was taken by NASA‘s Galileo spacecraft on August 22, 2001.
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