Sponde

This article is about the astronomical body. For the Greek spirit of libations named Sponde, see Horae. For the French poet, see Jean de Sponde. For the metrical foot, see spondee.

Sponde (/ˈspɒndiː/ SPON-dee; Greek: Σπονδή), also known as 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 in 2001, and given the temporary designation S/2001 J 5.[1][2]

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 was named in August 2003 after one of the Horae (Hours), which presided over the seventh hour (libations poured after lunch).[3] The Hours, goddesses of the time of day but also of the seasons, were daughters of Zeus (Jupiter) and Themis.

It belongs to the Pasiphae 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°.

References

  1. ↑ IAUC 7900: Satellites of Jupiter 2002 May 16 (discovery)
  2. ↑ MPEC 2002-J54: Eleven New Satellites of Jupiter 2002 May 15 (discovery and ephemeris)
  3. ↑ IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus 2003 August 8 (naming the moon)
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