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[edit] Formation
Formation of Jupiter's Rings
Jupiter has a faint planetary ring system composed of smoke-like dust particles knocked off of its moons by meteor impacts. These impacts are particularly energetic due to the pull of Jupiter's gravity. The dust continues to orbit Jupiter in the direction of the moon's orbit. As it absorbs sunlight, it gradually spirals inward toward Jupiter, spreading out into a ring.
[edit] Named Rings
The main ring is made of dust from the satellites Adrastea and Metis. Inside the main ring is a torus of faint particles known as the halo. Two wide gossamer rings encircle the main ring, originating from Thebe and Amalthea. Finally, there is a distant and very faint outer ring circling Jupiter backwards—retrograde of its spin. It is not known for sure where the material for this outer ring comes from, but it may be captured interplanetary dust.
| Name |
Distance from Jupiter's centre (km) |
Width (km) |
| 1979 J1R ('Halo Ring') |
100,000 - 122,800 |
22,800 |
| 1979 J2R ('Main Ring') |
122,800 - 129,200 |
6,400 |
| 1979 J3R ('Gossamer Ring') |
129,200 - 214,200 |
85,000 |
[edit] References
edit Jupiter's natural satellites
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