Dia (moon)

Dia
Discovery
Discovered by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Yanga R. Fernández, and Eugene A. Magnier
Discovery date December 5, 2000
Orbital characteristics
Mean orbit radius
 12.1 million km
Eccentricity 0.210[1]
274 d
Inclination 28.2°[1]
Satellite of Jupiter
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
 ≈2 km
≈23[1]

    Dia (/ˈdaɪ.ə/), also known as Jupiter LIII, is the second-outermost known prograde irregular satellite of Jupiter. Provisionally known as S/2000 J 11, it received its name on March 7, 2015.[2] It is named after Dia, daughter of Deioneus (or Eioneus), wife of Ixion. According to Homer, she was seduced by Zeus in stallion form; Pirithous was the issue.

    The satellite is the only known small body in the Himalia group.[3]

    Dia is believed to be about 4 kilometres in diameter.[4] It orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 12 million km in 274 days, at an inclination of 28° (to Jupiter's equator), and with an eccentricity of 0.21.[1]

    Observational history

    Dia was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2000 with an observation arc of 26 days.[5][6]

    Initial observations were not followed up, and Dia was not observed for more than a decade after 2000. This apparent disappearance led some astronomers to consider the moon lost.[7] One theory was that it had crashed into Himalia, creating a faint ring around Jupiter.[8] However, it was finally recovered in observations made in 2010 and 2011.[1]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 Williams, Gareth V. (2012-09-11). "MPEC 2012-R22 : S/2000 J 11". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
    2. ↑ CBET (Central Bureau Electronic Telegram) 4075: 20150307: Satellites of Jupiter, March 7, 2015
    3. ↑ Sheppard, S. S.; Jewitt, D. C.; An abundant population of small irregular satellites around Jupiter, Nature, 423 (May 2003), pp. 261–263 Archived August 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
    4. ↑ Sheppard, S. S.; Jewitt, D. C.; Porco, C.; Jupiter's outer satellites and Trojans, in Jupiter: The planet, satellites and magnetosphere, edited by Fran Bagenal, Timothy E. Dowling, William B. McKinnon, Cambridge Planetary Science, Vol. 1, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-81808-7, 2004, pp. 263-280
    5. ↑ Daniel W. E. Green (January 5, 2001). "IAUC 7555: Satellites of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.
    6. ↑ Brian G. Marsden (January 15, 2001). "MPEC 2001-A29: S/2000 J 7, S/2000 J 8, S/2000 J 9, S/2000 J 10, S/2000 J 11". International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center.
    7. ↑ "FAQ: Why don't you have Jovian satellite S/2000 J11 in your system?". JPL Solar System Dynamics. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
    8. ↑ "Lunar marriage may have given Jupiter a ring", New Scientist, March 20, 2010, p. 16.(subscription required)
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