Dia (moon)

Dia
Discovery
Discovered by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Yanga R. Fernández, and Eugene A. Magnier
Discovery date 2000-Dec-05
Orbital characteristics
Mean orbit radius
 12.1 million km
Eccentricity 0.210[1]
274 d
Inclination 28.2°[1]
Satellite of Jupiter
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
 ≈2 km
≈23[1]

    Dia (/ˈdaɪ.ə/), also known as Jupiter LIII, is the second-outermost known prograde irregular satellite of Jupiter. Provisionally known as S/2000 J 11, it received its name on 7 March 2015.[2] It is named after Dia, daughter of Deioneus (or Eioneus), wife of Ixion. According to Homer, she was seduced by Zeus in stallion form; Pirithous was the issue.

    The satellite is the only known small body in the Himalia group.[3]

    Dia is believed to be about 4 kilometres in diameter.[4] It orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 12 million km in 274 days, at an inclination of 28° (to Jupiter's equator), and with an eccentricity of 0.21.[1]

    Observational history

    Dia was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2000 with an observation arc of 26 days.[5][6]

    Initial observations were not followed up, and Dia was not observed for more than a decade after 2000. This apparent disappearance led some astronomers to consider the moon lost.[7] One theory was that it had crashed into Himalia, creating a faint ring around Jupiter.[8] However, it was finally recovered in observations made in 2010 and 2011.[1]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, Gareth V. (2012-09-11). "MPEC 2012-R22 : S/2000 J 11". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
    2. ↑ CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram) 4075: 20150307: SATELLITES OF JUPITER, 7 March 2015
    3. ↑ Sheppard, S. S.; Jewitt, D. C.; An abundant population of small irregular satellites around Jupiter, Nature, 423 (May 2003), pp. 261-263
    4. ↑ Sheppard, S. S.; Jewitt, D. C.; Porco, C.; Jupiter's outer satellites and Trojans, in Jupiter: The planet, satellites and magnetosphere, edited by Fran Bagenal, Timothy E. Dowling, William B. McKinnon, Cambridge Planetary Science, Vol. 1, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-81808-7, 2004, pp. 263-280
    5. ↑ IAUC 7555: Satellites of Jupiter 2001 January 5 (discovery)
    6. ↑ MPEC 2001-A29: S/2000 J 7, S/2000 J 8, S/2000 J 9, S/2000 J 10, S/2000 J 11 2001 January 15 (discovery and ephemeris)
    7. ↑ IAUC 7555, January 2001. "FAQ: Why don't you have Jovian satellite S/2000 J11 in your system?". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
    8. ↑ "Lunar marriage may have given Jupiter a ring", New Scientist, March 20, 2010, p. 16.

    External links

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