Adrastea definitions
| Word backwards | aetsardA |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | Adrastea is a proper noun, specifically the name of one of Jupiter's moons. |
| Syllabic division | A-dras-te-a |
| Plural | The plural of the word Adrastea is Adrasteas. |
| Total letters | 8 |
| Vogais (3) | a,a,e |
| Consonants (5) | a,d,r,s,t |
Adrastea: Jupiter's Moon
Adrastea is one of Jupiter's moons, discovered in 1979 by a team of scientists led by David C. Jewitt. As the smallest of the four largest moons of Jupiter, Adrastea's diameter is only about 16 miles. Its name comes from Greek mythology, where Adrastea was a nymph who cared for the infant Zeus.
Physical Characteristics
Adrastea has an irregular shape and orbits very close to Jupiter, within the planet's Gossamer Ring. This close proximity causes Adrastea to have an incredibly fast orbit around Jupiter, completing one revolution in just over seven hours. Its surface is covered in craters, evidence of impacts throughout its history.
Unique Features
One of the most interesting features of Adrastea is its status as the only moon in the solar system that orbits closer to its planet than the planet's synchronous orbit radius. This unique positioning means that Adrastea orbits faster than Jupiter rotates, causing it to move in a direction opposite to Jupiter's rotation.Adrastea's close proximity to Jupiter also means that it plays a role in shaping the planet's Gossamer Ring, a faint ring of dust and debris that encircles Jupiter. As Adrastea orbits, it clears a gap in the ring due to its gravitational forces, creating a disturbance in the otherwise uniform ring structure.
Overall, Adrastea is a fascinating moon with a rich history and unique characteristics that set it apart from its counterparts in the solar system. Its close relationship with Jupiter provides valuable insights into the dynamics of moons and planets orbiting a massive gas giant.
Adrastea Examples
- Adrastea is one of the smallest moons of Jupiter.
- The mythological figure Adrastea was known as the goddess of necessity.
- Scientists discovered Adrastea in 1979 using images taken by Voyager 1.
- The surface of Adrastea is heavily cratered due to impacts from other celestial bodies.
- Adrastea orbits Jupiter within the planet's main ring.
- The name Adrastea is derived from Greek mythology, meaning "inescapable" or "inescapable fate."
- Adrastea has an irregular shape and measures approximately 20 kilometers in diameter.
- Adrastea's orbit is very close to Jupiter, causing it to experience intense gravitational forces.
- The discovery of Adrastea expanded our knowledge of the Jovian system and its many moons.
- Adrastea plays a role in shaping the structure of Jupiter's rings due to its gravitational interactions.