Moons of Outer Planets

Study Notes

Moons of Uranus

Miranda is a moon of Uranus that has a heavily cratered surface, suggesting a powerful impact in its past.
Ariel is another Uranian moon known for its network of canyons and valleys, indicating geological activity.
Titania is the largest moon of Uranus and features a diverse surface with both craters and tectonic features.

Moons of Neptune

Triton, Neptune's largest moon, is the coldest known place in the Solar System.
Nitrogen geysers erupt on Triton, suggesting internal heating and volcanic activity.

Moons of Pluto

Charon, a dwarf planet, is Pluto's largest moon.
It was named after the boatman who ferried the dead across the River Styx in Greek mythology.

Moons of Mercury and Venus

Neither Mercury nor Venus has moons.

Moons of Earth

The Moon, Earth's natural satellite, is the largest satellite relative to its planet in the Solar System.
It is believed to have formed from material ejected from Earth after a collision with a Mars-sized object.

Moons of Mars

Phobos, Mars' inner moon, is named after the Greek god of fear.
It is thought to have formed from a captured asteroid, possibly due to a collision with the planet.
Deimos, Mars' outer moon, is named after the Greek god of terror.
It too is believed to be a captured asteroid.

Moons of Jupiter

Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, is larger than the planet Mercury.
Callisto, another moon of Jupiter, has a heavily cratered, ancient surface, suggesting little geological activity since formation.
Europa, Jupiter's moon, is believed to have a subsurface ocean of liquid water and is considered a prime location for searching for extraterrestrial life.
IO, Jupiter's moon, is the most volcanically active body in the Solar System.

Moons of Saturn

Dione is a moon of Saturn named after the goddess of the hunt.
Enceladus, another Saturnian moon, is known for its water geysers, indicating internal heat, and is another potential location for life.
Iapetus, Saturn's third largest moon, has a unique two-tone appearance, with one hemisphere darker than the other.
This dark hemisphere suggests a coating of organic or other materials.
Mimas, Saturn's moon, is small but is notably shaped much like the Death Star from the Star Wars movies.
Tethys, another Saturnian moon, is smooth and cratered with a giant canyon.
Titan, Saturn's moon, is the only moon in the Solar System with a substantial atmosphere.
It possesses lakes and rivers of methane and is also a possible location for life.

Description

This quiz explores the fascinating moons of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, along with a brief mention of the moons of Mercury, Venus, and Earth. Discover the unique characteristics of these celestial bodies, from Miranda's craters to Triton's geysers. Test your knowledge on the diverse satellites that orbit our neighboring planets!