Largest Solar System Moon ....

[keithisco]

More than 400 years after its discovery by astronomer Galileo Galilei, the largest moon in the solar system - Jupiter's moon Ganymede - has finally claimed a spot on the map.

A group of scientists led by Geoffrey Collins of Wheaton College has produced the first global geologic map of Ganymede, Jupiter's seventh moon. The map combines the best images obtained during flybys conducted by NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft (1979) and Galileo orbiter (1995 to 2003) and is now published by the U. S. Geological Survey as a global map. It technically illustrates the varied geologic character of Ganymede's surface and is the first global, geologic map of this icy, outer-planet moon. The geologic map of Ganymede is available for download at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=pia17902 ).

tHANKS TO jpl, read more: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2014-046&1&utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NASAJPL&utm_content=releases20140212

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Rotating Globe of Ganymede Geology

Animation of a rotating globe of Jupiter's moon Ganymede, with a geologic map superimposed over a global color mosaic. The 37-second animation begins as a global color mosaic image of the moon then quickly fades in the geologic map.

The views incorporate the best available imagery from NASA's Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft and NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Credit: NASA/JPL/USGS

Source: NASA/JPL - Space Images

[pallidin]

Dang. I didnt know it was so large. Another"would be" planet to be sure, if it wasn't in the grips of Jupiter

Huh.

[alfonso]

are they the actual colours of the planet?.. it looks amazing

[coolguy]

They did a great job .

[Peter B]

are they the actual colours of the planet?.. it looks amazing

No, not the real colours. They're simply used to distinguish the different geological regions. The surface is basically all water ice, and its colours seem to range between white and grey.