Sponde Explained

Sponde
Adjective:Spondean
Named After:Σπονδή Spondē
Discoverer:Scott S. Sheppard et al.
Discovered:9 December 2001
Discovery Site:Mauna Kea Obs.
Mpc Name:Jupiter XXXVI
Alt Names:S/2001 J 5
Orbit Ref: [1]
Inclination:151.0°
Eccentricity:0.312
Period:−734.89 days
Satellite Of:Jupiter
Group:Pasiphae group
Magnitude:23.0
Abs Magnitude:16.7
Mean Diameter:2 km

Sponde, also known as , 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 2001, and given the temporary designation .[2] [3]

Sponde is about 2 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 24,253,000 km in 734.89 days, at an inclination of 154° to the ecliptic (156° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.443.

It was named in August 2003 after one of the Horae (Hours), which presided over the seventh hour (libations poured after lunch).[4] The Hours, goddesses of the time of day but also of the seasons, were daughters of Zeus (Jupiter) and Themis.

It belongs to the Pasiphae group, irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at distances ranging between 22.8 and 24.1 Gm, and with inclinations ranging between 144.5° and 158.3°.

Notes and References

  1. https://sites.google.com/carnegiescience.edu/sheppard/moons/jupitermoons S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Jupiter, Carnegie Science, on line
  2. http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/07900/07900.html IAUC 7900: Satellites of Jupiter
  3. http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/mpec/K02/K02J54.html MPEC 2002-J54: Eleven New Satellites of Jupiter
  4. http://cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/08100/08177.html IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus