S/2011 J 3
Discovery[1]
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard
Discovery siteLas Campanas Obs.
Discovery date27 September 2011
Orbital characteristics[1][2]
Epoch 9 August 2022 (JD 2459800.5)
Observation arc10.98 yr (4,009 d)
0.0788592 AU (11,797,170 km)
Eccentricity0.1757518
+261.77 days
215.57916°
1° 22m 30.884s / day
Inclination28.65923° (to ecliptic)
97.75374°
222.10770°
Satellite ofJupiter
GroupHimalia group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
≈3 km[3]
Albedo0.04 (assumed)[3]
23.1[3]
16.3[1]

S/2011 J 3 is a small outer natural satellite of Jupiter discovered by Scott S. Sheppard on 27 September 2011, using the 6.5-meter Magellan-Baade Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. It was announced by the Minor Planet Center 11 years later on 20 December 2022, after observations were collected over a long enough time span to confirm the satellite's orbit.[1]

S/2011 J 3 is part of the Himalia group, a tight cluster of prograde irregular moons of Jupiter that follow similar orbits to Himalia at semi-major axes between 11–12 million km (6.8–7.5 million mi) and inclinations between 26–31°.[3] With an estimated diameter of 3 km (1.9 mi) for an absolute magnitude of 16.3, it is among the smallest known members of the Himalia group.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "MPEC 2022-Y69 : S/2011 J 3". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Planetary Satellite Discovery Circumstances". JPL Solar System Dynamics. NASA. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Sheppard, Scott S. "Moons of Jupiter". Earth & Planets Laboratory. Carnegie Institution for Science. Retrieved 20 December 2022.


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