# How is it known that Callisto has no core?

My Astronomy book claims that scientists have discovered that Callisto, a moon of Jupiter, has no hot inner core. In fact, it says, Callisto has a core much like the nucleus of a comet.

Is this still accepted theory, and how was this information discovered?

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## 1 Answer

It may have a (silicate) core, but it's very small. There also is the possibility of an internal liquid water "ocean". Currently the most probable composition is that of rock and ice, with the density of rock steadily increasing as one digs deeper (This is in stark contrast with planets like Earth, where there are discontinuities in the density between layers). Planetary differentiation has not occurred appreciably because Callisto is not tidally heated.

The composition can never be completely determined — the composition of a spherical body cannot be fully discerned from just rotation and translation1. However, we can make reasonable guesses. Basically, we can calculate its total mass and moment of inertia by observing its rotation and revolution. Then, assuming that the density ρ varies radially, we get the following two equations:

$$M = \int \rho \pi r^2dr$$

$$I = \int (\rho \pi r^2dr)r^2$$

These do not completely determine ρ, however with other reasonable assumptions on the composition and the amount of planetary differentiation it can have, we can get a good estimate for ρ.

1. It can be determined if we take a larger gravitational field and pivot it, but this ventures into the Aristotlean "Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth." zone of thought experiments.

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