What is the origin of the jovian moons?
A)They all formed with the planet.
B)They were main belt asteroids, captured by Jupiter's strong gravity.
C)They are Trojan asteroids, orbiting 60 degrees ahead or behind Jupiter.
D)The four Galilean moons formed with Jupiter, most others were later captures.
E)They were ripped from the planet's interior in an early cataclysmic event.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The four largest moons of Jupiter (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto), known as the Galilean moons, are thought to have formed with Jupiter itself. However, most other Jovian moons are believed to have been captured by Jupiter's strong gravity as they passed by the planet. The four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) are thought to have formed with Jupiter, but most other jovian moons are believed to have been captured later. This is supported by the fact that these moons have irregular orbits and inclinations, which is characteristic of captured objects rather than moons that formed with the planet.

What Is the Origin of the Jovian Moons