As of now, Jupiter has 80 known satellites. This impressive number includes both large moons and smaller irregular satellites that orbit the giant planet.
The four largest moons, known as the Galilean moons, are particularly noteworthy. They were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 and are named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Each of these moons is unique; for example, Europa is believed to have a subsurface ocean beneath its icy crust, which could potentially harbor life.
Jupiter’s smaller moons, however, are more challenging to study and were mostly discovered in recent years with the aid of advanced telescopes. These smaller satellites often have irregular shapes and orbits, many of which are thought to be captured objects from the Kuiper Belt or asteroids from the asteroid belt.
As our exploration of the solar system advances, it is likely that more satellites will be discovered around Jupiter, further expanding our understanding of this gas giant and its intriguing collection of moons.