Megaclite (moon)

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Megaclite (meg'-ə-klye'-tee, IPA: /ˌmɛgəˈklaɪti/; Latin Megaclītē, from Greek Μεγακλειτη), or Jupiter XIX, is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 J 8.[1][2][3]

Megaclite is about 5.4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 24.687 million kilometers in 792.437 days, at an inclination of 150° to the ecliptic (148° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.308.

It was named in October 2002 after Megaclite, mother by Zeus (Jupiter) of Thebe and Locrus (although both of these are assigned a different mother by other authors).[4][5]

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°.

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