Leda (moon)

Leda
Discovery
Discovered by	Charles T. Kowal
Discovery date	September 11, 1974
Designations
Adjectives	Ledean
Orbital characteristics
Mean orbit radius	11,160,000 km
Eccentricity	0.16
Orbital period (sidereal)	240.92 d (0.654 a)
Average orbital speed	3.4 km/s
Inclination	27.46° (to the ecliptic); 29.01° (to Jupiter's equator)
Satellite of	Jupiter
Physical characteristics
Mean radius	10 km
Surface area	~1250 km2
Volume	~4200 km3
Mass	1.1×1016 kg
Mean density	2.6 g/cm3 (assumed)
Surface gravity	~0.0073 m/s2 (0.001 g)
Escape velocity	~0.012 km/s
Albedo	0.04 (assumed)
Temperature	~124 K
Apparent magnitude	20.2

Leda (/ˈliːdə/ LEE-də; Greek: Λήδα), also known as Jupiter XIII, is a prograde irregular satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by Charles T. Kowal at the Mount Palomar Observatory on September 14, 1974, after three nights' worth of photographic plates had been taken (September 11 through 13; Leda appears on all of them).^[1]^[4] It was named after Leda, who was a lover of Zeus, the Greek equivalent of Jupiter (who came to her in the form of a swan). Kowal suggested the name and the IAU endorsed it in 1975.^[5]

Leda belongs to the Himalia group, five moons orbiting between 11 and 13 Gm from Jupiter at an inclination of about 27.5°.^[2] The orbital elements given here are as of January 2000, but they are continuously changing due to solar and planetary perturbations.

In fiction

The 1956 British film Fire Maidens from Outer Space was set on Jupiter's 13th moon, although this film was made before the discovery of Leda in 1974.
In Brenda Hiatt's 2013 teen, science fiction themed romance novel, Starstruck, Rigel impresses Marsha with a telescope that clearly sees Leda. Rigel is in turn impressed that Marsha knows so much about the obscure Moon of Jupiter, to include that it was not even discovered until 1974.
In Liu Cixin's 2010 science fiction novel Death's End, Jupiter XIII is consumed by a man-made blackhole, thus creating the first-ever stable man-made blackhole.

References

^ ^a ^b Kowal, C. T.; Aksnes, K.; Marsden, B. G.; Roemer, E. (1974). "Thirteenth satellite of Jupiter". Astronomical Journal. 80: 460–464. Bibcode:1975AJ.....80..460K. doi:10.1086/111766.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Jacobson, R. A. (2000). "The orbits of outer Jovian satellites". Astronomical Journal. 120 (5): 2679. Bibcode:2000AJ....120.2679J. doi:10.1086/316817.
^ Calvin J. Hamilton (1997–2009). "Leda Statistics". Views of the Solar System. Retrieved October 1, 2007.
^ Brian G. Marsden (September 20, 1974). "IAUC 2702: Probable New Satellite of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.
^ Marsden, Brian G. (October 7, 1975). "Satellites of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.

External links

[Kowal_1974-1] Kowal, C. T.; Aksnes, K.; Marsden, B. G.; Roemer, E. (1974). "Thirteenth satellite of Jupiter". Astronomical Journal. 80: 460–464. Bibcode:1975AJ.....80..460K. doi:10.1086/111766.

[Jacobson_2000-2] Jacobson, R. A. (2000). "The orbits of outer Jovian satellites". Astronomical Journal. 120 (5): 2679. Bibcode:2000AJ....120.2679J. doi:10.1086/316817.

[magnitude-3] Calvin J. Hamilton (1997–2009). "Leda Statistics". Views of the Solar System. Retrieved October 1, 2007.

[IAUC_2702-4] Brian G. Marsden (September 20, 1974). "IAUC 2702: Probable New Satellite of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.

[IAUC_2846-5] Marsden, Brian G. (October 7, 1975). "Satellites of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.

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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

In fiction

See also

References

External links