2007-04-22 12:48:07 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
They are so named because Galileo first discovered them. Their actual names refer to younger lesser gods and goddesses that Zeus or Jupiter had extramarital sexual affairs with. Io, Europa, and Callisto were his female lovers, and Ganymede was said to be a particularly handsome young man. (And of course he was married to his wife, Hera, but she did not get a satellite named for her.)
2007-04-22 13:21:27 · answer #1 · answered by Sciencenut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Satellite Of Jupiter Names
2016-12-18 06:09:58 · answer #2 · answered by wintle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Galileo was the first to see them. Here is a quote from wikipedia.
There are also at least 63 moons, including the four large moons called the Galilean moons that were first discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610. The largest of these moons is bigger than the planet Mercury.
2007-04-22 12:55:21 · answer #3 · answered by eric l 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They were first observed by Galileo Galilei.
2007-04-22 12:50:01 · answer #4 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋