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S/2021 J 2
Discovery [1]
Discovered by Scott S. Sheppard
Discovery site Las Campanas Obs.
Discovery date12 August 2021
Orbital characteristics [1] [2]
Epoch 25 February 2023 ( JD 2460000.5)
Observation arc1.06 yr (387 d)
0.1413164  AU (21,140,630 km)
Eccentricity0.3413342
–1.72 yr (–627.96 days)
320.08120 °
0° 34m 23.822s / day
Inclination150.11397° (to ecliptic)
340.99094°
71.71210°
Satellite of Jupiter
Group Ananke group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
1 km [3]
24.0 [3]
17.3 [1]

S/2021 J 2 is a small outer natural satellite of Jupiter discovered by Scott S. Sheppard on 12 August 2021, using the 6.5-meter Magellan-Baade Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. It was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 19 January 2023, after observations were collected over a long enough time span to confirm the satellite's orbit. [1]

S/2021 J 2 is part of the Ananke group, a cluster of retrograde irregular moons of Jupiter that follow similar orbits to Ananke at semi-major axes between 19–22 million km (12–14 million mi), orbital eccentricities between 0.1–0.4, and inclinations between 139–155°. [3] It has a diameter of about 1 km (0.62 mi) for an absolute magnitude of 17.3, making it one of Jupiter's smallest known moons. [3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "MPEC 2023-B37 : S/2021 J 2". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Planetary Satellite Discovery Circumstances". JPL Solar System Dynamics. NASA. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Sheppard, Scott S. "Moons of Jupiter". Earth & Planets Laboratory. Carnegie Institution for Science. Retrieved 10 January 2023.