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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)).

See also