Helike (moon)

Helike (/ˈhɛlᵻkiː/ HEL-ə-kee; Greek: Ελίκη), also known as Jupiter XLV, is a moon of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2003, and given the temporary designation S/2003 J 6.[1][2][3]

Helike is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 20.54 million kilometres in 601.402 days, at an inclination of 155° to the ecliptic (156° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.1375. Its average orbital speed is 2.48 km/s.

It was named in March 2005 after Helike, one of the nymphs that nurtured Zeus (Jupiter) in his infancy on Crete.[4]

Helike belongs to the Ananke group, retrograde irregular moons that orbit Jupiter between 19.3 and 22.7 million kilometres, at inclinations of roughly 150°.

References

  1. ↑ Daniel W. E. Green (March 4, 2003). "IAUC 8087: Satellites of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.
  2. ↑ Brian G. Marsden (March 4, 2003). "MPEC 2003-E11 : S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 2, 2003 J 3, 2003 J 4, 2003 J 5, 2003 J 6, 2003 J 7". International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center.
  3. ↑ Brian G. Marsden (March 7, 2003). "MPEC 2003-E29 : S/2003 J 9, 2003 J 10, 2003 J 11, 2003 J 12; S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 6". International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center.
  4. ↑ Daniel W. E. Green (March 30, 2005). "IAUC 8502: Satellites of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.
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