Aoede (moon) facts for kids
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard et al. |
| Discovery date | 2003 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | Jupiter XLI |
|
Named after
|
Ἀοιδή Aoidē |
| S/2003 J 7 | |
| Adjectives | Aoedean |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 23981000 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.432 |
| −761.5 days | |
| Inclination | 158.3° |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Physical characteristics | |
|
Mean radius
|
5.1 km |
| Mass | 1.4×1015 kg |
|
Mean density
|
2.6 g/cm3 (assumed) |
| Albedo | 0.04 (assumed) |
| 22.5 | |
| 14.11±0.42 | |
Aoede, also called Jupiter XLI, is one of the many moons orbiting the giant planet Jupiter. It is much smaller than Jupiter's biggest moons. Still, Aoede is a fascinating little world to learn about.
Contents
Discovering Aoede
Scientists did not always know about Aoede. A team of astronomers found it in 2003. These scientists were from the University of Hawaii. They were led by a researcher named Scott S. Sheppard.
When a new moon is found, it gets a temporary name first. Aoede's temporary name was S/2003 J 7. This name helps astronomers keep track of new discoveries. It is used until the moon gets an official name.
Size and Its Path Around Jupiter
Aoede is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide. That's roughly the size of a small city! It travels around Jupiter quite far away. Its average distance is about 23,044,000 kilometers (14,319,000 miles).
It takes Aoede a long time to go around Jupiter once. It completes one trip in about 714.657 Earth days. That's almost two full Earth years!
Aoede's path around Jupiter is special. It orbits in the opposite direction of Jupiter's spin. This is called a retrograde orbit. Also, its orbit is very tilted compared to Jupiter's middle.
How Aoede Got Its Name
After its discovery, Aoede needed a proper name. In March 2005, astronomers named it after Aœde. Aœde is a figure from ancient Greek stories.
In Greek mythology, Aœde was one of the three original Muses. The Muses were goddesses who inspired people. They were linked to arts, music, and sciences. Aœde was known as the Muse of song. She was said to be the daughter of Zeus. Zeus is the king of the gods, similar to the Roman god Jupiter. Her mother was Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.
The Pasiphae Group of Moons
Aoede belongs to a group of moons called the Pasiphae group. These moons are called "irregular" moons. This means their orbits are not smooth and round like many other moons.
All moons in the Pasiphae group orbit Jupiter in a retrograde direction. This means they go around Jupiter the opposite way the planet spins. These moons are also quite far from Jupiter. They orbit between 22.8 and 24.1 million kilometers away. Their orbits are also very tilted, from 144.5 to 158.3 degrees.
Why Study Small Moons Like Aoede?
You might wonder why scientists study tiny moons like Aoede. These small moons can teach us a lot! They help us understand how Jupiter formed. They also give clues about how our solar system changed over billions of years.
By studying their orbits, scientists can learn about Jupiter's gravity. They can also figure out how much mass Jupiter has. Every piece of information helps us understand our universe better.
See also
In Spanish: Aedea (satélite) para niños
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