Eurydome.space

Irregular moon of Jupiter (retrograde) · Outer Jovian system · Pasiphae group

Eurydome

Jupiter XXXII · S/2001 J 4

A three-kilometre moon found alongside its sibling Hermippe — and a neat way to learn how orbits are described.

Key factsScience kit picker
Eurydome at a glance
Object typeIrregular, retrograde moon of Jupiter[1]
GroupPasiphae group[1]
DiscoveredDec. 9, 2001, Mauna Kea, Hawaii[2]
DiscoverersS. S. Sheppard, D. C. Jewitt, J. T. Kleyna[2]
NamedAugust 2003[1]
Diameter≈ 3 km[1]
Mean distance≈ 22.9 million km from Jupiter[3]
Orbital period≈ 708 days[3]
Inclination≈ 149° (retrograde)[3]
Eccentricity≈ 0.29[3]

Found with a sibling

Eurydome was discovered together with Hermippe by Sheppard’s team in 2001, and designated S/2001 J 4.[1] It is about 3 km across.[1]

The Pasiphae group

Eurydome belongs to the Pasiphae group, retrograde moons at 22.8–24.1 million km with inclinations of 144.5°–158.3°.[1] Most or all of them are thought to come from one captured asteroid broken by a collision.[2]

The parent body

The group’s original body is calculated to have been about 60 km across, about the size of Pasiphae itself.[4]

The name

Named in August 2003, Eurydome is sometimes described in Greek myth as the mother of the Graces by Zeus.[1]

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Orbit

Eurydome orbits backwards between about 16.3 and 29.5 million km, once every 708 days.[3]

Jupiter Callisto (1.88 million km)Himalia (11.44 million km) farthest ≈ 29.5 million km closest ≈ 16.3 million km
Top-down orbit of Eurydome to scale, computed from JPL orbital elements (a ≈ 22.89 million km, e ≈ 0.287).[3] Callisto and Himalia orbits shown for comparison.[3] Mean orbital elements; the real orbit is tilted steeply and shifts over time, so this top-down view flattens it onto one plane.

Hands-on science

Orbits, gravity and collisions are fun to explore at home. Our science kit picker suggests kits by age and interest.

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Orbital elements explained, with Eurydome

Semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination and period in plain language.

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Eurydome and Hermippe: discovered together

Two moons found in the same December 2001 search.

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The 60-kilometre parent of the Pasiphae group

What one broken asteroid left behind.

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Sources

  1. Eurydome (moon) — Wikipedia
  2. Eurydome — NASA Science
  3. Planetary Satellite Mean Elements — NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
  4. Pasiphae group — Wikipedia

Figures are rounded; where sources differ we note it. Spotted an error? Tell us.