Sponde (moon)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the astronomical body; for the metrical foot, see spondee.

Sponde (spon'-dee, IPA: [ˈspɒndi]; Greek Σπονδή), or Jupiter XXXVI, is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard, et al. in 2001, and given the temporary designation S/2001 J 5. Sponde is about 2 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 24,253 Mm in 771.604 days, at an inclination of 154° to the ecliptic (156° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.443.

It is named after one of the Horae (Hours), which presided over the seventh hour (libations poured after lunch). The Hours, goddesses of the time of day but also of the seasons, were daughters of Zeus and Themis.

It belongs to the Pasiphaë group, irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at distances ranging between 22.8 and 24.1 Gm, and with inclinations ranging between 144.5° and 158.3°.

... | Sinope | Sponde | Autonoe | ...