Valetudo (moon)
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Daniel Mietchen (talk | contribs) at 13:35, 17 July 2019 (breaking the introductory paragraph into different parts for discovery, characteristics, nomenclature). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version. |
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard et al. |
Discovery date | 2017 |
Designations | |
Named after | Great-granddaughter of Jupiter (Roman name for Greek Hygeia), goddess of health and hygiene. |
Jupiter LXII | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
Mean orbit radius | 18,980,000 km |
Eccentricity | 0.222 |
533.3 days | |
Inclination | 34.0 degrees |
116.8 degrees | |
Satellite of | Jupiter |
Physical characteristics[1] | |
Mean diameter | 1 km |
24.0 | |
16.9[2] | |
Valetudo (/vælɪˈtjuːdoʊ/), also known as Jupiter LXII or S/2016 J 2, is a moon of Jupiter.[3][4] It was discovered by Scott S. Sheppard and his team in data reaching back to 2016, but was not announced until July 17, 2018, via a Minor Planet Electronic Circular from the Minor Planet Center, which also reported the discovery of nine other Jupiter moons.[2]
Valetudo has a diameter of about 1 km (0.6 mi) and orbits Jupiter at a distance of about 19 million kilometres (12 million miles). Its orbital inclination is 34 degrees, and its orbital eccentricity is 0.222.[1] It has a prograde orbit, but it crosses paths with several other moons that have retrograde orbits and may in the future collide with them.[5]
It was provisionally designated as S/2016 J 2 until it received its name in 2018. The name Valetudo was proposed for it as part of its announcement, after the Roman goddess of health and hygiene, Valetudo, a great-granddaughter of the god Jupiter[5] and approved by the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature on 3 October 2018.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Sheppard, Scott S. "Moons of Jupiter". sites.google.com. Google. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ a b "MPEC 2018-O09 : S/2016 J 2". Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ Resnick, Brian. "The Jupiter Satellite and Moon Page". Vox. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ Grush, Loren. "Astronomers have found a new crop of moons around Jupiter, and one of them is a weirdo". The Verge. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ a b Strickland, Ashley. "12 new moons discovered around Jupiter". CNN International. CNN. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
- ^ USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Nomenclature News: Name Approved for Jovian Satellite: Valetudo