Galilean satellite
1
8.9
- noun
- /ˌɡælɪˈleɪən ˈsætəˌlaɪt/
- Specialized
:
satélite galileano
- Mission to the icy moons: A vision for the future of space exploration includes a spacecraft orbiting Jupiter's third Galilean satellite, Ganymede.
- Jupiter's four Galilean satellites
Examples
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Each of the Galilean satellites has unique features, such as volcanic activity on Io and an icy surface on Europa.
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The central vertical strip masks Jupiter to prevent saturation. Bright spots are the Galilean satellites.
Academic text (2000) -
Once during each orbit of Jupiter, the Galilean satellites pass in front of or behind the planet.
Academic text (2002) -
A steadily held pair of 7 x 50 binoculars reveals the four bright Galilean satellites, whose positions change from night to night.
Academic text (2002) -
Shadowy discs from its Galilean satellites race across its cloud tops in a matter of minutes.
Academic text (2004) -
Students observe actual Voyager images of Jupiter and the Galilean satellites at regular, student-specified intervals.
Academic text (1996) -
Many of Galileo's planned observations of Jupiter were sacrificed for observations of the Galilean satellites.
Academic text (2002) -
Io, the innermost of Jupiter's four Galilean satellites, is by far and away the most volcanically active body in the solar system.
Academic text (2000) -
Looking at a screen cannot even begin to match the thrill of seeing the Moon's craters and mountains, Jupiter's Galilean satellites, and Saturn's rings with your own eyes.
Blog text (1) -
As for Fomalhaut b, there are indications that it has a circumplanetary disc similar to the one that Jupiter's Galilean satellites formed from... the view from that planet must be pretty spectacular.
Blog text (1)
Synonyms
1
8.8
A large moon of Jupiter discovered by Galileo
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositional: 'Galilean' (relating to Galileo) modifies 'satellite' (a moon), so a learner who knows both words can infer it means a moon associated with Galileo—i.e., the moons he discovered. Although the full technical detail (that it refers specifically to the four largest Jovian moons) is specialized, the basic meaning is directly derivable from the constituents and cross-linguistically transparent.
Etymology
Galilean satellite comes from the scientist Galileo, who in 1610 used a small telescope to see four large 'moons' moving around Jupiter. The word satellite means a 'moon' that 'orbits' a planet, so the name means those big moons of Jupiter discovered by Galileo.