Megaclite
Megaclite imaged by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in December 2001
Discovery [1]
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard
David C. Jewitt
Yanga R. Fernandez
Eugene A. Magnier
Discovery siteMauna Kea Observatory
Discovery date25 November 2000
Designations
Designation
Jupiter XIX
Pronunciation/mɛɡəˈklaɪtiː/
Named after
Μεγακλειτή Megaclītē
S/2000 J 8
AdjectivesMegaclitean /ˌmɛɡəklɪˈtiːən/
Orbital characteristics [2]
Epoch 27 April 2019 (JD 2458600.5)
Observation arc16.26 yr (5,938 days)
0.1586666 AU (23,736,190 km)
Eccentricity0.4102170
–747.09 d
269.64681°
0° 28m 54.732s / day
Inclination143.20224° (to ecliptic)
356.52408°
8.71854°
Satellite ofJupiter
GroupPasiphae group
Physical characteristics[3]
Mean diameter
≈ 6 km
Albedo0.04 (assumed)
21.7[4]
15.0[2]

Megaclite /mɛɡəˈklaɪtiː/, also known as Jupiter XIX, is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 J 8.[5][1][6]

Megaclite is about 6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 24,687,000 kilometers in 747.09 days, at an inclination of 150° to the ecliptic (148° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.308.

It was named in October 2002 after Megaclite, mother by Zeus (Jupiter) of Thebe and Locrus in Greek mythology.[7][8]

It belongs to the Pasiphae group, irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at distances ranging between 22.8 and 24.7 Gm, and with inclinations ranging between 144.5° and 158.3°. However, while Pasiphae is gray (B−V=0.74, V−R=0.38, V−I=0.74) in color, Megaclite is light red (B−V=0.94, V−R=0.41, V−I=1.05) and come similar to Callirrhoe.[9]

Animation of Megaclite's orbit from 1900 to 2100
Polar view
Equatorial view
   Jupiter ·   Megaclite

References

  1. ^ a b MPEC 2001-A29: S/2000 J 7, S/2000 J 8, S/2000 J 9, S/2000 J 10, S/2000 J 11 2001 January 15 (discovery and ephemeris)
  2. ^ a b "M.P.C. 115890" (PDF). Minor Planet Circular. Minor Planet Center. 27 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  4. ^ Sheppard, Scott. "Scott S. Sheppard - Jupiter Moons". Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. Carnegie Institution for Science. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  5. ^ IAUC 7555: Satellites of Jupiter Archived 2002-09-16 at the Wayback Machine 2001 January 5 (discovery)
  6. ^ MPEC 2001-T59: S/2000 J 8, S/2000 J 9, S/2000 J 10 2001 October 15 (revised ephemeris)
  7. ^ IAUC 7998: Satellites of Jupiter 2002 October 22 (naming the moon "Magaclite")
  8. ^ IAUC 8023: Satellites of Jupiter 2002 November 29 (correcting the name)
  9. ^ Grav, Tommy; Holman, M. J.; Gladman, B. J.; Aksnes, K. (2003). "Photometric survey of the irregular satellites". Icarus. 166 (1): 33–45. arXiv:astro-ph/0301016. Bibcode:2003Icar..166...33G. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.07.005. S2CID 7793999.
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