Himalia

Himalia is a fascinating moon in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With a Himalia radius of 85 km, making it 75.0× smaller than Earth's size, this celestial body presents unique characteristics that distinguish it from other objects in our cosmic neighborhood. Positioned at an average distance of 1.15e+7 km (0.077 AU) from the Sun, Himalia occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture. As a moon, Himalia demonstrates the incredible diversity of natural satellites that orbit larger celestial bodies throughout our Solar System.

The Himalia physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The Himalia radius measures 85 km, making it 75.0× smaller than Earth's size. The Himalia mass of 9.50e+18 kg represents 628631.6× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence. The Himalia density of 1 g/cm³ (5.5× smaller than Earth's density) provides clues about its internal composition, while the surface gravity of 0.062 m/s² (158.2× smaller than Earth's gravity) determines how objects behave on its surface. The low density indicates a composition dominated by lighter elements, characteristic of gas giants or icy bodies.

The Himalia orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The Himalia orbit has a semimajor axis of 1.15e+7 km (0.077 AU), placing it 13.1× smaller than Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), Himalia comes within 9.78e+6 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 1.31e+7 km, creating a 28.8% variation in solar distance. The Himalia orbit is moderately elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.162 (9.7× Earth's orbital eccentricity), creating noticeable seasonal variations in solar radiation. The Himalia orbit takes 0.07 hours to complete (125947.4× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 27.5° indicates how much the Himalia orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This moderate inclination indicates a typical orbital evolution for objects in this region of the Solar System.

The Himalia rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The Himalia rotation period of 0.00 hours (11073.9× smaller than Earth's rotation period) determines the length of its day. This extremely fast rotation creates intense centrifugal forces and may contribute to the planet's flattened shape. The Himalia axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, Himalia experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about Himalia's position in space. The mean anomaly of 0° indicates the planet's current position in its orbit relative to its perihelion. The argument of periapsis of 0° shows how the orbit's orientation changes over time due to gravitational perturbations. The longitude of ascending node of 0° defines the reference point where the orbit crosses the ecliptic plane.

The Himalia temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The Himalia average temperature of 0.0 K (-273.1 °C) (-459.7°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make Himalia inhospitable to life as we know it, with any atmosphere likely frozen solid on the surface. Compared to Earth's average temperature of 15°C (59°F), Himalia presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being closer to the Sun than Earth, Himalia receives more intense solar radiation, contributing to its temperature profile. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The Himalia escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The Himalia escape velocity of 0 m/s determines how easily objects can break free from its gravitational pull. This relatively low escape velocity means that gases and light molecules can easily escape into space, making it difficult for Himalia to retain a substantial atmosphere. The Himalia flattening of 0.0000% indicates how much the planet's rotation affects its shape. This minimal flattening suggests a nearly spherical shape, indicating either slow rotation or a very rigid internal structure.