Relationship With Jupiter's Rings
Due to its low density and irregular shape, the escape velocity at the surface points of Amalthea closest to and furthest from Jupiter is no more than 1 m/s and dust can easily escape from it after, e.g. micrometeorite impacts; this dust forms the Amalthea Gossamer Ring.
During its flyby of Amalthea, the Galileo orbiter's star scanner detected nine flashes which appear to be small moonlets near the orbit of Amalthea. Since they were sighted only from one location, their true distances could not be measured. The moonlets may be anywhere in size from gravel to stadium-sized. Their origins are unknown, but they may be gravitationally captured into current orbit or they may be ejecta from meteor impacts on the moon. On the next and final orbit, Galileo detected more of these moonlets. However, this time Amalthea was on the other side of the planet, so it is probable that the particles form a ring around the planet near Amalthea's orbit.
Read more about this topic: Amalthea (moon)
Famous quotes containing the words relationship, jupiter and/or rings:
“In contrast with envy, which usually occurs between two people and is focused upon another person’s qualities or possessions, jealousy occurs when a third person becomes a threat to a dyad. Jealousy involves the loss or the impending loss of a relationship that one wants to hold onto, a relationship that is vital to personal fulfillment and claimed as one’s own.”
—Carol S. Becker (b. 1942)
“If Jupiter should hurl a bolt whenever men sin,
His armory would quickly be empty.”
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)
“You held my hand
and were instant to explain
the three rings of danger.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)