Isonoe (moon) facts for kids

Isonoe, also known as Jupiter XXVI, is a small, non-round moon that orbits the giant planet Jupiter. It was discovered in 2000 by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii. This team was led by Scott S. Sheppard. When it was first found, it was given the temporary name S/2000 J 6.

About Isonoe

Isonoe is not very big, only about 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) across. It travels around Jupiter quite far away, at an average distance of about 23,833,000 kilometers (14,809,000 miles). It takes Isonoe a long time to complete one trip around Jupiter, about 751.647 days.

Isonoe's Orbit

Isonoe's path around Jupiter is tilted. This tilt, called its inclination, is about 166 degrees compared to the ecliptic (the path the Sun seems to take across the sky). It's also tilted about 169 degrees compared to Jupiter's equator. The moon's orbit is also a bit oval-shaped, not a perfect circle. This oval shape is measured by its orbital eccentricity, which for Isonoe is 0.166.

How Isonoe Got Its Name

In October 2002, this moon was officially named Isonoe. The name comes from Greek mythology. Isonoe was one of the Danaides, who were daughters of Danaus. She was also known as a lover of Zeus, who is the Greek god that the Roman god Jupiter is based on.

The Carme Group

Isonoe is part of a family of moons called the Carme group. All the moons in this group are not round. They also orbit Jupiter "backwards" compared to Jupiter's spin. This is called a retrograde orbit. These moons are found orbiting Jupiter at distances between 23,000,000 and 24,000,000 kilometers. Their orbits are also tilted at about 165 degrees.

See also

In Spanish: Isonoé (satélite) para niños