Amalthea's density is less than that of water

Science. 2005 May 27;308(5726):1291-3. doi: 10.1126/science.1110422.

Abstract

Radio Doppler data from the Galileo spacecraft's encounter with Amalthea, one of Jupiter's small inner moons, on 5 November 2002 yield a mass of (2.08 +/- 0.15) x 10(18) kilograms. Images of Amalthea from two Voyager spacecraft in 1979 and Galileo imaging between November 1996 and June 1997 yield a volume of (2.43 +/- 0.22) x 10(6) cubic kilometers. The satellite thus has a density of 857 +/- 99 kilograms per cubic meter. We suggest that Amalthea is porous and composed of water ice, as well as rocky material, and thus formed in a cold region of the solar system, possibly not at its present location near Jupiter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Gravitation
  • Ice
  • Jupiter*
  • Pressure
  • Spacecraft
  • Water*

Substances

  • Ice
  • Water