Eirene (moon) facts for kids
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott Sheppard et al. |
| Discovery date | 2003 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | Jupiter LVII |
| Pronunciation | /aɪˈriːniː/ |
|
Named after
|
Εἰρήνη Eirēnē |
| S/2003 J 5 | |
| Adjectives | Eirenean /aɪrɪˈniːən/ |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 23731770 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.2413 |
| −743.88 days (2.038 years) |
|
| Inclination | 162.713° (to the ecliptic) |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Physical characteristics | |
|
Mean diameter
|
4 km |
| 22.5 | |
| 15.8 | |
Eirene (pronounced eye-REE-nee) is one of Jupiter's many moons. It is also known as Jupiter LVII and was first called S/2003 J 5. This moon is an irregular satellite, meaning it has a strange orbit. It also moves in a retrograde direction, which means it orbits Jupiter backward compared to most moons.
A team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii, led by Scott S. Sheppard, first found Eirene in 2003. After being "lost" for a while (meaning scientists couldn't find it again right away), it was rediscovered in 2017. That same year, it was given its official name.
About Eirene
Eirene is a small moon, only about 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles) wide. It travels around Jupiter quite far away, at an average distance of about 23,974,000 kilometers (almost 15 million miles).
It takes Eirene about 744 days, or a little over two years, to complete one trip around Jupiter. Its orbit is tilted quite a bit, about 166 degrees, compared to the main path of planets around the Sun (called the ecliptic). It also has an eccentricity of 0.307, which means its orbit is not a perfect circle but more of an oval shape.
The Carme Group
Eirene is part of a family of moons called the Carme group. This group includes several of Jupiter's moons that share similar orbits. They all orbit Jupiter very far away, between 23 and 24 million kilometers. Like Eirene, all the moons in the Carme group move in a retrograde direction. Their orbits are also tilted at about 165 degrees.
How Eirene Got Its Name
The moon Eirene was officially named in 2019. It is named after Eirene, who was the goddess of peace in Greek mythology. She was believed to be the daughter of Zeus, the king of the gods, and Themis, the goddess of justice.
The name for the moon came from a special contest held on Twitter. Many people suggested names, and sixteen tweets suggested "Eirene." Two users, Quadrupoltensor (@Quadrupoltensor) and PaulR (@PJRYYC), were especially noted for suggesting the name.
See also
In Spanish: Eirene (satélite) para niños
