- The circle shows the "privileged view" from above; the bottom
rectangle what we would observe from Earth on the dates shown.
- Earth is located directly "down" from this viewpoint; the Sun, off to the lower left.
- Io passes Europa always on the same side of Jupiter.
- Europa passes Ganymede always on the same side of Jupiter.
- Callisto does not participate in these resonances.
- Remember also that each moon is in synchronous rotation about Jupiter, although some
libration (an irregular wobbling back and forth slightly during the orbit) occurs.
Animation from
Wolfram
Products, permission to use image pending.
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