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S/2021 J 6
Discovery [1]
Discovered by Scott S. Sheppard
David J. Tholen
Chad Trujillo
Discovery site Mauna Kea Obs.
Discovery date5 September 2021
Orbital characteristics [1] [2]
Epoch 25 February 2023 ( JD 2460000.5)
Observation arc12.04 yr (4,396 d)
Earliest precovery date2 October 2010
0.1566013  AU (23,427,220 km)
Eccentricity0.3625334
–2.01 yr (–732.55 days)
77.36574 °
0° 29m 29.162s / day
Inclination166.49991° (to ecliptic)
172.60903°
254.84930°
Satellite of Jupiter
Group Carme group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
1 km [3]
23.9 [3]
17.3 [1]

S/2021 J 6 is a small outer natural satellite of Jupiter discovered by Scott S. Sheppard, David J. Tholen, and Chad Trujillo on 5 September 2021, using the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii. It was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 20 January 2023, after observations were collected over a long enough time span to confirm the satellite's orbit. [1] The satellite has been found in precovery observations as early as 2 October 2010. [1]

S/2021 J 6 is part of the Carme group, a tight cluster of retrograde irregular moons of Jupiter that follow similar orbits to Carme at semi-major axes between 22–24 million km (14–15 million mi), orbital eccentricities between 0.2–0.3, and inclinations between 163–166°. [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 e "MPEC 2023-B50 : S/2021 J 6". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 20 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.