Ganymede (moon)

Ganymede ({{IPA2|?gæn??mi?d}}, gan'-i-meed, Greek Γανυμήδης) is Jupiter's largest moon, and indeed the largest moon in the entire solar system; it is larger in diameter than Mercury but only about half its mass. Ganymede is much larger than Pluto. Ganymede is the only planetary satellite (besides the Moon) that can be seen by the naked eye - but only with very good eyesight during ideal seeing conditions. Therefore it is no surprise that it was discovered only in 1610 by Galileo Galilei and named after the cup-bearer of the Greek gods, beloved of Zeus (see Ganymede (mythology)).

Ganymede in fiction

• Robert Heinlein's novel Farmer in the Sky depicts the terraforming and colonization of Ganymede.
• In the science fiction TV series Babylon 5, the Shadows bury a ship under the surface of Ganymede, which is dug up during the third season of the show (the Messages From Earth episode).
• In Arthur C. Clarke's novel ', Ganymede is warmed by the new sun Lucifer and contains a large equatorial lake. It is the centre of human colonization of the Jovian system.
• The Gentle Giants of Ganymede by James P. Hogan ISBN 0345314697. An alien spaceship is found on Ganymede.
• In the book On Two Planets, a powerful, benevolent alien race from Ganymede decides to assist humanity.
• In the 32nd Millennium of the Warhammer 40,000 Universe, Ganymede is destroyed during a Warp Core experiment that goes horribly awry.
• Ganymede is portrayed in the anime series Cowboy Bebop. It is depicted as an aquatic planet, a terraformed world that is entirely covered in water. Animal life, most likely created by human intervention, is also depicted, such as the Ganymede searat, a species of rodent-like seal. About 7 million people live on it in floating colonies which are supported on large barge-type foundations. The character Jet Black was a police officer on Ganymede, and presumably was born there.
• In the Power Rangers TV series, Ganymede is the hiding place chosen by Zordon has the hiding space for a fleet of Zords known as the Mega Vehicles, which combine to form the Mega Voyager. The Space Rangers locate these Zords after winning Key Cards from Darkonda in a card game. ("Flashes of Darkonda", "The Rangers' Mega Voyage").
• In the novel Orphanage by Robert Buettner, an alien race uses Ganymede as a staging area for a war against Earth.
• Ganymede is referred to in virtually all of Philip K. Dick's novels from the 50s and 60s, although it seldom receives more than a brief mention. In "Clans of the Alphane Moon", we are introduced to Lord Running Clam, a species of intelligent slime mold from Ganymede.