Relation Between Light Variations of Solar System Satellites and Their Interaction with Interplanetary Medium

The behaviour of the available light curves of Jupiter and Saturn satellites is shown to change steadily from inner to outer satellites.The change in reflectivity of satellites with orbital motion could be explained assuming that dark meteoroidal material accumulates on a given portion of the satellite's surface, which was once mainly covered with ice or snow. The preferential impact location on the satellite's surface could be a consequence of the perturbing action of the planet on the motion of interplanetary material.