Which of these is NOT a valid reason to believe that the outer satellites of Jupiter are captured planetesimals?
A) There was not enough material in the primordial nebula around Jupiter to form the large Galilean satellites as well as the 60 or so outer satellites. So, they must have been captured.
B) The outer satellites are irregular in shape.
C) The outer satellites are all less than 275 km in diameter.
D) The outer satellites are mostly in retrograde orbits.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of the Galilean satellites and the outer satellites does not directly imply that the outer satellites were captured because of a lack of material. The formation of satellites can involve complex processes beyond just the availability of material in the primordial nebula.

Which of These Is NOT a Valid Reason to Believe