S/2003 J 12

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S/2003 J 12
Discovery
Discovered by Scott S. Sheppard et al.
Discovery date 2003
Orbital characteristics
Mean orbit radius 17.883 million km[1]
Eccentricity 0.4920
Orbital period 489.72 days
Inclination 143°
Physical characteristics
Mean radius ~0.5 km
Mass 1,50×1012 kg

    S/2003 J 12 is a natural satellite of Jupiter, and is the smallest known satellite in the Solar System. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2003.[2][3]

    S/2003 J 12 is about 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 17,883 Mm in 489.72 days, at an inclination of 143° to the ecliptic (143° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.4920.[1]

    It is the innermost of the outer irregular retrograde satellites of Jupiter, and does not seem to belong to any group.

    References

    1. 1.0 1.1 Jacobson, R.A. (2006) JUP263 (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-21. 
    2. IAUC 8089: Satellites of Jupiter 2003 March 7 (discovery)
    3. MPEC 2003-E29: S/2003 J 9, 2003 J 10, 2003 J 11, 2003 J 12; S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 6 2003 April 3 (discovery and ephemeris)
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