S/2003 J 2

S/2003 J 2
Discovery
Discovered by	University of Hawaiʻi team led by Scott S. Sheppard and David C. Jewitt
Discovery date	March 4, 2003
Orbital characteristics
Eccentricity	0.4074
Orbital period (sidereal)	981.55 d (2.687 Earth years)
Inclination	154° (to the ecliptic); 152° (to Jupiter's equator)
Satellite of	Jupiter

S/2003 J 2 is a retrograde irregular satellite of Jupiter. The discovery, by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard and David C. Jewitt, was announced on March 4, 2003.^[1]^[2] As of 2014^[update], it is Jupiter's outermost known moon.

S/2003 J 2 is about 2 km (1.2 mi) in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 29.54 gigametres (0.1975 AU) in 981.55 days, at an inclination of 154° to the ecliptic (152° to Jupiter's equator) and with an eccentricity of 0.4100.^[3]^[4]^[5]

It seems to belong to a group all of its own, with semi-major axis ~30 gigametres (0.20 AU) and inclination ~160°.^[4]

The limits of Jupiter's gravitational influence are defined by its Hill sphere, whose radius is 52 gigametres (0.35 AU). Retrograde moons with axes up to 67% of Hill radius are believed to be stable. Consequently, it is possible that even more distant moons of Jupiter may be discovered.

References

^ IAUC 8087: Satellites of Jupiter 2003 March 4 (discovery)
^ Sheppard, Scott S. (2003). "An abundant population of small irregular satellites around Jupiter" (PDF). Nature. 423 (6937): 261–263. doi:10.1038/nature01584. PMID 12748634. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) ^{[dead link]}
^ MPEC 2003-E11: S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 2, 2003 J 3, 2003 J 4, 2003 J 5, 2003 J 6, 2003 J 7 2003 March 4 (discovery and ephemeris)
^ ^a ^b Mean orbital elements from NASA JPL (August 2006)
^ Current (2004 July 14, JD= 2453200.5) orbital elements as reported by IAU-MPC NSES are a= 0.2024818 AU, e=0.1882469 i=153.52114

[1] IAUC 8087: Satellites of Jupiter 2003 March 4 (discovery)

[SheppardJewitt2003-2] Sheppard, Scott S. (2003). "An abundant population of small irregular satellites around Jupiter" (PDF). Nature. 423 (6937): 261–263. doi:10.1038/nature01584. PMID 12748634. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help) ^{[dead link]}

[3] MPEC 2003-E11: S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 2, 2003 J 3, 2003 J 4, 2003 J 5, 2003 J 6, 2003 J 7 2003 March 4 (discovery and ephemeris)

[JPL_mean-4] Mean orbital elements from NASA JPL (August 2006)

[5] Current (2004 July 14, JD= 2453200.5) orbital elements as reported by IAU-MPC NSES are a= 0.2024818 AU, e=0.1882469 i=153.52114

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v t e Moons of Jupiter
Listed in increasing approximate distance from Jupiter
Inner moons	Metis Adrastea Amalthea Thebe
Galilean moons	Io Europa Ganymede Callisto
Themisto	Themisto
Himalia group (9)	Leda Ersa S/2018 J 2 Himalia Pandia Lysithea Elara S/2011 J 3 Dia
Carpo group (2)	S/2018 J 4 Carpo
Valetudo	Valetudo
Ananke group (26)	Euporie Jupiter LV Eupheme S/2021 J 3 Jupiter LII Jupiter LIV Mneme Euanthe S/2003 J 16 Harpalyke Orthosie S/2022 J 3 Helike S/2021 J 2 Praxidike Jupiter LXIV S/2021 J 1 S/2003 J 12 Jupiter LXVIII Thelxinoe Thyone S/2003 J 2 Ananke Iocaste Hermippe Jupiter LXX
Carme group (30)	S/2022 J 1 S/2022 J 2 S/2016 J 3 Pasithee Jupiter LXIX S/2021 J 6 S/2003 J 24 Chaldene Jupiter LXIII Isonoe S/2021 J 4 Kallichore Erinome Kale Eirene Aitne Eukelade Arche Taygete Jupiter LXXII Carme Herse Jupiter LXI Jupiter LI S/2003 J 9 Jupiter LXVI Kalyke S/2018 J 3 S/2021 J 5 S/2003 J 10
Pasiphae group (18)	Philophrosyne Eurydome Jupiter LVI S/2003 J 4 S/2016 J 4 Jupiter LXVII Hegemone Pasiphae Sponde Megaclite Cyllene Sinope Jupiter LIX Aoede Autonoe Callirrhoe S/2003 J 23 Kore
See also	Rings of Jupiter Jupiter's moons in fiction
Category