Philophrosyne (moon) facts for kids
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott Sheppard et al. |
| Discovery date | 2003 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | Jupiter LVIII |
| Pronunciation | /fɪləˈfrɒsəniː/ or /-ˈfrɒzəniː/ |
|
Named after
|
Φιλοφροσύνη Philophrosynē |
| S/2003 J 15 | |
| Adjectives | Philophrosynean /fɪˌlɒfrəzəˈniːən/ |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 22819950 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.194 |
| −701.3 days | |
| Inclination | 143.6° |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Physical characteristics | |
|
Mean diameter
|
2 km |
| 23.5 | |
Philophrosyne is one of the many natural satellites, or moons, that orbit the giant planet Jupiter. It is also known as Jupiter LVIII and was first called S/2003 J 15.
A team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii, led by Scott S. Sheppard, found Philophrosyne in 2003. After its discovery, the moon was temporarily lost from sight. Scientists found it again in 2017, and it was given its official name that same year.
About Philophrosyne
Philophrosyne is a small moon, measuring about 2 kilometers (about 1.2 miles) across. It travels around Jupiter at an average distance of 22,721,000 kilometers (about 14.1 million miles).
It takes Philophrosyne about 699.676 days to complete one full orbit around Jupiter. This moon has a special kind of orbit called a retrograde orbit. This means it moves in the opposite direction compared to Jupiter's rotation.
Its Orbit and Group
Philophrosyne's orbit is tilted at an inclination of 142 degrees compared to Jupiter's equator. Its orbit is also not a perfect circle; it has an eccentricity of 0.0932, meaning it's slightly oval-shaped.
This moon belongs to a group of moons called the Pasiphae group. These are irregular moons that orbit Jupiter quite far out, between 22.8 and 24.1 million kilometers. They all have orbits that are tilted roughly 150 to 155 degrees and move in a retrograde direction.
Where its Name Comes From
The moon was officially named Philophrosyne in 2019. Its name comes from Philophrosyne (Φιλοφροσύνη), a spirit from ancient Greek myths. She was known as the spirit of welcome, friendliness, and kindness.
In Greek stories, Philophrosyne was the daughter of Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths, and Aglaea, the goddess of beauty. She was also the granddaughter of Zeus, the king of the gods.
The name for the moon was chosen after a special contest held on Twitter. Several users suggested the name, including a history class studying Greek and Roman philosophy, and other individuals who also helped name another of Jupiter's moons, Eupheme.
See also
In Spanish: Filofrósine (satélite) para niños
