S/2003 J 2 facts for kids

S/2003 J 2 is a small, unnamed moon that orbits the giant planet Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii. This team was led by Scott S. Sheppard and David C. Jewitt. They announced their discovery on March 4, 2003. For a long time, S/2003 J 2 was known as Jupiter's farthest moon.

Understanding S/2003 J 2

S/2003 J 2 is not shaped like a perfect ball, which is why it's called "non-spherical." Most larger moons are round, but this one is more like a potato. It's quite small, only about two kilometers (about 1.2 miles) wide.

Where Does S/2003 J 2 Orbit?

This moon travels very far from Jupiter. Its average distance from the planet is about 29,540,000 kilometers (that's over 18 million miles!). It takes S/2003 J 2 about 980 Earth days to complete one full trip around Jupiter. This is almost three Earth years!

How Does It Move?

S/2003 J 2 has a special kind of orbit. It moves in a "retrograde" direction. This means it orbits Jupiter in the opposite direction compared to most of Jupiter's other moons and the planet's own spin. Imagine a car driving backward around a track! Its path is also quite tilted, about 154 degrees compared to the ecliptic (the path Earth takes around the Sun).

Is S/2003 J 2 Part of a Group?

Many of Jupiter's moons are found in groups, sharing similar orbits. However, S/2003 J 2 seems to be unique. Its very distant and backward orbit makes it stand out. It doesn't fit neatly into any of the known moon families around Jupiter.

Images for kids

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  S/2003 J 2 and several bright background stars and galaxies imaged by the CFHT in April 2003

See also

In Spanish: S/2003 J 2 para niños