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Because planets captured gas as they were forming
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they had small solar nebulae tests of nebula theory
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Regular satellite systems
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Large moons in direct (i.e. counterclockwise), equatorial orbits
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Preserve solid material from time of formation
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Jupiter shows solar-system like density gradients
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Rings
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Moons unusual and interesting objects in their own right
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Io most volcanically active body in solar system
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Europa also active, may have liquid water ocean (and life!)
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Titan only satellite with a thick atmosphere
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Many properties are due to tidal forces
and resonances
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