Praxidike (moon) facts for kids
Praxidike, also known as Jupiter XXVII, is one of the many moons that travel around the giant planet Jupiter. It is not perfectly round like Earth's Moon, but has an irregular shape.
Praxidike was discovered in 2000 by a group 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 7.
About Praxidike
Praxidike travels around Jupiter quite far away. Its average distance from Jupiter is about 20,824,000 kilometers (that's over 12 million miles!). It takes Praxidike a long time to complete one trip around Jupiter, about 614 days. Its path around Jupiter is also tilted at a steep angle, about 144 degrees. This means it doesn't orbit in the same flat plane as many of Jupiter's other moons. Its path is also not a perfect circle.
Naming the Moon
In August 2003, this moon was officially named Praxidike. The name comes from Greek mythology. Praxidike was a goddess who was linked to justice and punishment.
Praxidike's Characteristics
Praxidike is part of a family of moons called the Ananke group. Scientists believe that these moons are pieces left over from a larger asteroid that was captured by Jupiter's gravity and then broke apart.
Praxidike is estimated to be about 7 kilometers (about 4.3 miles) wide. This makes it the second largest moon in the Ananke group, after Ananke itself. Scientists think Praxidike looks grey, similar to a type of space rock called a C-type asteroid.
Images for kids
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Praxidike observed by the WISE spacecraft in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Praxídice (satélite) para niños
