List of Jupiter's moons facts for kids
There are 79 known moons of Jupiter. Jupiter has the second largest number of moons with reasonably stable orbits of any planet in the Solar System.
The most massive of the moons are the four Galilean moons, which were independently discovered in 1610 by Galileo Galilei and Simon Marius. They were the first objects found to orbit a body that was neither Earth nor the Sun. The Galilean moons are by far the largest and most massive objects to orbit Jupiter. The other 75 known moons and the rings together make up just 0.003% of the total orbiting mass. The four are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. They are roughly the same size as Earth's moon, some are a bit bigger, some are smaller.
From the end of the 19th century, dozens of much smaller Jovian moons have been discovered. All these are less than 250 kilometres (160 mi) in diameter, with most barely exceeding 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). Their orbital shapes range from nearly perfectly circular to highly eccentric and inclined. Many revolve in the direction opposite to Jupiter's spin (retrograde motion). Orbital periods range from seven hours (taking less time than Jupiter does to spin around its axis), to some three thousand times more (almost three Earth years).
List of moons
This list starts with those that go around Jupiter (orbit) the fastest. That is, they have the shortest orbital period. Moons highlighted in purple are the "Galilean moons," moons highlighted in dark gray have a retrograde orbit, and moons with the regular white background have a prograde orbit.
Label |
Name |
Pronunciation (key) |
Image | Diameter (km) |
Mass (×1016 kg) |
Semi-major axis (km) |
Orbital period (d) |
Inclination (°) |
Eccentricity |
Discovery year |
Discoverer |
Group |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | XVI | Metis | 60×40×34 | ~3.6 | 127,690 | +7h 4m 30s | 0.06° | 0.0002 | 1979 | Synnott (Voyager 1) |
Inner | ||
2 | XV | Adrastea | 20×16×13 | ~0.2 | 129,000 | +7h 9m 30s | 0.03° | 0.0015 | 1979 | Jewitt (Voyager 2) |
Inner | ||
3 | V | Amalthea | 250×146×128 | 208 | 181,366 | +11h 57m 23s | 0.374° | 0.0032 | 1892 | Barnard | Inner | ||
4 | XIV | Thebe | 116×98×84 | ~43 | 221,889 | +16h 11m 17s | 1.076° | 0.0175 | 1979 | Synnott (Voyager 1) |
Inner | ||
5 | I | Io | 3,660.0×3,637.4 ×3,630.6 |
8,900,000 | 421,700 | +1.769 137 786 | 0.050° | 0.0041 | 1610 | Galilei | Galilean | ||
6 | II | Europa | 3,121.6 | 4,800,000 | 671,034 | +3.551 181 041 | 0.471° | 0.0094 | 1610 | Galilei | Galilean | ||
7 | III | Ganymede | 5,262.4 | 15,000,000 | 1,070,412 | +7.154 552 96 | 0.204° | 0.0011 | 1610 | Galilei | Galilean | ||
8 | IV | Callisto | 4,820.6 | 11,000,000 | 1,882,709 | +16.689 018 4 | 0.205° | 0.0074 | 1610 | Galilei | Galilean | ||
9 | XVIII | Themisto | 8 | 0.069 | 7,393,216 | +129.87 | 45.762° | 0.2115 | 1975/2000 | Kowal & Roemer/ Sheppard et al. |
Themisto | ||
10 | XIII | Leda | 16 | 0.6 | 11,187,781 | +241.75 | 27.562° | 0.1673 | 1974 | Kowal | Himalia | ||
11 | VI | Himalia | 170 | 670 | 11,451,971 | +250.37 | 30.486° | 0.1513 | 1904 | Perrine | Himalia | ||
12 | X | Lysithea | 36 | 6.3 | 11,740,560 | +259.89 | 27.006° | 0.1322 | 1938 | Nicholson | Himalia | ||
13 | VII | Elara | 86 | 87 | 11,778,034 | +261.14 | 29.691° | 0.1948 | 1905 | Perrine | Himalia | ||
14 | — | Dia | 4 | 0.009 0 | 12 570 424 | +287.93 | 27.584° | 0.2058 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Himalia | ||
15 | XLVI | Carpo | 3 | 0.004 5 | 17,144,873 | +458.62 | 56.001° | 0.2735 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Carpo | ||
16 | — | S/2003 J 12 | 1 | 0.000 15 | 17,739,539 | −482.69 | 142.680° | 0.4449 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | ? | ||
17 | XXXIV | Euporie | 2 | 0.001 5 | 19,088,434 | −538.78 | 144.694° | 0.0960 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
18 | — | S/2003 J 3 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 19,621,780 | −561.52 | 146.363° | 0.2507 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
19 | — | S/2003 J 18 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 19,812,577 | −569.73 | 147.401° | 0.1569 | 2003 | Gladman et al. | Ananke | ||
20 | XLII | Thelxinoe | 2 | 0.001 5 | 20,453,753 | −597.61 | 151.292° | 0.2684 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
21 | XXXIII | Euanthe | 3 | 0.004 5 | 20,464,854 | −598.09 | 143.409° | 0.2000 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
22 | XLV | Helike | 4 | 0.009 0 | 20,540,266 | −601.40 | 154.586° | 0.1374 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
23 | XXXV | Orthosie | 2 | 0.001 5 | 20,567,971 | −602.62 | 142.366° | 0.2433 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
24 | XXIV | Iocaste | 5 | 0.019 | 20,722,566 | −609.43 | 147.248° | 0.2874 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
25 | — | S/2003 J 16 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 20,743,779 | −610.36 | 150.769° | 0.3184 | 2003 | Gladman et al. | Ananke | ||
26 | XXVII | Praxidike | 7 | 0.043 | 20,823,948 | −613.90 | 144.205° | 0.1840 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
27 | XXII | Harpalyke | 4 | 0.012 | 21,063,814 | −624.54 | 147.223° | 0.2440 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
28 | XL | Mneme | 2 | 0.001 5 | 21,129,786 | −627.48 | 149.732° | 0.3169 | 2003 | Gladman et al. | Ananke | ||
29 | XXX | Hermippe | 4 | 0.009 0 | 21,182,086 | −629.81 | 151.242° | 0.2290 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke? | ||
30 | XXIX | Thyone | 4 | 0.009 0 | 21,405,570 | −639.80 | 147.276° | 0.2525 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke | ||
31 | XII | Ananke | 28 | 3.0 | 21,454,952 | −642.02 | 151.564° | 0.3445 | 1951 | Nicholson | Ananke | ||
32 | L | Herse | 2 | 0.001 5 | 22,134,306 | −672.75 | 162.490° | 0.2379 | 2003 | Gladman et al. | Carme | ||
33 | XXXI | Aitne | 3 | 0.004 5 | 22,285,161 | −679.64 | 165.562° | 0.3927 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
34 | XXXVII | Kale | 2 | 0.001 5 | 22,409,207 | −685.32 | 165.378° | 0.2011 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
35 | XX | Taygete | 5 | 0.016 | 22,438,648 | −686.67 | 164.890° | 0.3678 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
36 | — | S/2003 J 19 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 22,709,061 | −699.12 | 164.727° | 0.1961 | 2003 | Gladman et al. | Carme | ||
37 | XXI | Chaldene | 4 | 0.007 5 | 22,713,444 | −699.33 | 167.070° | 0.2916 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
38 | — | S/2003 J 15 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 22,720,999 | −699.68 | 141.812° | 0.0932 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Ananke? | ||
39 | — | S/2003 J 10 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 22,730,813 | −700.13 | 163.813° | 0.3438 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Carme? | ||
40 | — | S/2003 J 23 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 22,739,654 | −700.54 | 148.849° | 0.3930 | 2004 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
41 | XXV | Erinome | 3 | 0.004 5 | 22,986,266 | −711.96 | 163.737° | 0.2552 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
42 | XLI | Aoede | 4 | 0.009 0 | 23,044,175 | −714.66 | 160.482° | 0.6011 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
43 | XLIV | Kallichore | 2 | 0.001 5 | 23,111,823 | −717.81 | 164.605° | 0.2041 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Carme? | ||
44 | XXIII | Kalyke | 5 | 0.019 | 23,180,773 | −721.02 | 165.505° | 0.2139 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
45 | XI | Carme | 46 | 13 | 23,197,992 | −721.82 | 165.047° | 0.2342 | 1938 | Nicholson | Carme | ||
46 | XVII | Callirrhoe | 9 | 0.087 | 23,214,986 | −722.62 | 139.849° | 0.2582 | 2000 | Gladman et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
47 | XXXII | Eurydome | 3 | 0.004 5 | 23,230,858 | −723.36 | 149.324° | 0.3769 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë? | ||
48 | XXXVIII | Pasithee | 2 | 0.001 5 | 23,307,318 | −726.93 | 165.759° | 0.3288 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
49 | XLIX | Kore | 2 | 0.001 5 | 23,345,093 | −776.02 | 137.371° | 0.1951 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
50 | XLVIII | Cyllene | 2 | 0.001 5 | 23,396,269 | −731.10 | 140.148° | 0.4115 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
51 | XLVII | Eukelade | 4 | 0.009 0 | 23,483,694 | −735.20 | 163.996° | 0.2828 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
52 | — | S/2003 J 4 | 2 | 0.001 5 | 23,570,790 | −739.29 | 147.175° | 0.3003 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
53 | VIII | Pasiphaë | 60 | 30 | 23,609,042 | −741.09 | 141.803° | 0.3743 | 1908 | Gladman et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
54 | XXXIX | Hegemone | 3 | 0.004 5 | 23,702,511 | −745.50 | 152.506° | 0.4077 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
55 | XLIII | Arche | 3 | 0.004 5 | 23,717,051 | −746.19 | 164.587° | 0.1492 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
56 | XXVI | Isonoe | 4 | 0.007 5 | 23,800,647 | −750.13 | 165.127° | 0.1775 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
57 | — | S/2003 J 9 | 1 | 0.000 15 | 23,857,808 | −752.84 | 164.980° | 0.2761 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
58 | — | S/2003 J 5 | 4 | 0.009 0 | 23,973,926 | −758.34 | 165.549° | 0.3070 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | Carme | ||
59 | IX | Sinope | 38 | 7.5 | 24,057,865 | −762.33 | 153.778° | 0.2750 | 1914 | Nicholson | Pasiphaë | ||
60 | XXXVI | Sponde | 2 | 0.001 5 | 24,252,627 | −771.60 | 154.372° | 0.4431 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
61 | XXVIII | Autonoe | 4 | 0.009 0 | 24,264,445 | −772.17 | 151.058° | 0.3690 | 2002 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
62 | XIX | Megaclite | 5 | 0.021 | 24,687,239 | −792.44 | 150.398° | 0.3077 | 2001 | Sheppard et al. | Pasiphaë | ||
63 | — | S/2003 J 2 | Destiny | 2 | 0.001 5 | 30,290,846 | −1 077.02 | 153.521° | align="right"| 0.1882 | 2003 | Sheppard et al. | ? |
The Solar System | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sun • Heliosphere |
Planets ☾ = moon(s) ∅ = rings |
Mercury | Venus | Earth ☾ | Mars ☾ | ||
Jupiter ☾ ∅ | Saturn ☾ ∅ | Uranus ☾ ∅ | Neptune ☾ ∅ | ||||
Dwarf planets | Ceres | Pluto ☾ | Haumea ☾ | Makemake | |||
Eris ☾ | |||||||
Small Solar System bodies |
Asteroids (minor planets) |
Groups and families: Vulcanoids · Near-Earth asteroids · Asteroid belt Jupiter Trojans · Centaurs · Neptune Trojans · Asteroid moons · Meteoroids · Pallas · Juno · Vesta · Hygiea · Interamnia · Europa |
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See also the list of asteroids. | |||||||
Trans- Neptunians |
Kuiper belt – Plutinos: Orcus · Ixion – Cubewanos: Varuna · Quaoar · Huya |
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Scattered disc: Sedna | |||||||
Comets | Periodic comets and non-periodic comets Damocloids · Oort cloud |
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See also the list of solar system objects |
Images for kids
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Jupiter and the Galilean moons through a 25 cm (10 in) Meade LX200 telescope.
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The orbit and motion of the Galilean moons around Jupiter, as captured by JunoCam aboard the Juno spacecraft.
-
Ganymede taken by Juno during its 34th perijove.
See also
In Spanish: Satélites de Júpiter para niños