S/2003 J 4 facts for kids
S/2003 J 4 is a small moon that goes around the giant planet Jupiter. It was discovered in 2003 by a group of scientists from the University of Hawaii. This team was led by an astronomer named Scott S. Sheppard.
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About S/2003 J 4
S/2003 J 4 is quite small. It is only about 2 kilometers wide. This moon travels around Jupiter very far away. Its average distance from Jupiter is about 23,571,000 kilometers.
How it Orbits Jupiter
It takes S/2003 J 4 a long time to complete one trip around Jupiter. It takes about 739 days, which is more than two Earth years. Its path around Jupiter is also very tilted. This tilt, called its inclination, is about 147 degrees. This means it orbits Jupiter almost backward compared to Jupiter's spin. The moon's orbit is not a perfect circle either. It is a bit stretched out, which scientists call an orbital eccentricity of 0.3003.
The Pasiphaë Group
S/2003 J 4 is part of a family of moons known as the Pasiphaë group. These moons are special because they are not round like Earth's moon. They are also called "retrograde" moons. This means they orbit Jupiter in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation.
Characteristics of the Group
Moons in the Pasiphaë group orbit Jupiter at similar distances. Their distances range from about 22.8 million to 24.1 million kilometers. Their orbital paths are also very tilted. Their inclinations are usually between 144.5 and 158.3 degrees.
See also
In Spanish: S/2003 J 4 para niños
