ESA JUICE probe targets dark Jovian moon Kallichore in 2031
Jupiter hosts more than 100 moons, with most attention focused on the four Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. This is primarily due to their active geology, including Io being the most volcanically active planetary body in the solar system and Europa having a vast subsurface liquid-water ocean beneath its icy crust. However, Jupiter's smaller, lesser-known moons could provide…
The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft, scheduled to arrive in the Jupiter system in July 2031, aims to study the icy Galilean moons for potential habitability. In preparation for this mission, an international team of researchers has focused on one of Jupiter's smallest moons, Kallichore. This irregular moon, with an average diameter of 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles), is particularly dark, with a geometric albedo of just 0.037, indicating minimal reflectivity.
Improved measurements of Kallichore's orbit have significantly reduced the uncertainty in its predicted position for a potential flyby by JUICE in October 2031, from about 272 kilometers (169 miles) to a margin of error of only 30 kilometers (19 miles). Despite their challenging orbital paths, these irregular moons are crucial for studying the early solar system, providing a pristine sample of ancient celestial bodies.
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- ESA JUICE probe targets dark Jovian moon Kallichore in 2031 universetoday.com
