Carpo (moon) facts for kids
 |
|
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard et al. |
| Discovery date | 2003 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
|
Mean orbit radius
|
17.145 million km |
| Eccentricity | 0.2736 |
| 458.625 days | |
| Inclination | 56° to the ecliptic |
| Physical characteristics | |
|
Mean radius
|
~1.5km |
Carpo, also known as Jupiter XLVI, is one of the many moons that orbit the giant planet Jupiter. It is a very small, rocky world, much smaller than Earth's Moon. Scientists discovered Carpo in 2003. It was later given its official name in 2005, inspired by ancient Greek stories.
Discovery of Carpo
Carpo was found by a team of astronomers in 2003. This team was from the University of Hawaii. They were led by a scientist named Scott S. Sheppard. When it was first discovered, Carpo was given a temporary name: S/2003 J 20. This name helped scientists keep track of it until it received its permanent name a couple of years later.
Carpo's Journey Around Jupiter
Carpo is a tiny moon, only about 3 kilometers (less than 2 miles) across. It travels around Jupiter at a great distance. On average, it is about 17,145,000 kilometers (over 10 million miles) away from the giant planet.
One full trip around Jupiter takes Carpo about 458.625 days. This is more than a year! Carpo's path around Jupiter is not a perfect circle. It is a bit stretched out, which scientists call an orbital eccentricity. Its path is also tilted at an angle of 56 degrees compared to the ecliptic, which is the plane where most planets orbit the Sun.
Where Did the Name Carpo Come From?
In March 2005, this small moon officially received its name, Carpo. The name comes from Carpo, a figure in ancient Greek mythology. Carpo was one of the Horae, who were goddesses of the seasons. She was also known as a daughter of Zeus. In Roman mythology, Zeus is known as Jupiter, which is why the moon of Jupiter was named after her.
