Aoede (moon)

Aoede (pron-en|eɪˈiːdi "ay-EE-dee," or as in Greek "Αοιδή)," also known as nowrap|Jupiter XLI, 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 2003. It received the temporary designation nowrap|S/2003 J 7. [ [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iauc/08000/08087.html IAUC 8087: "Satellites of Jupiter"] 2003 March 4 (Discovery)] [ [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/mpec/K03/K03E11.html MPEC 2003-E11: "S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 2, 2003 J 3, 2003 J 4, 2003 J 5, 2003 J 6, 2003 J 7"] 2003 March 4 (Discovery and ephemeris)]

Aoede is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 23,044 Mm in 714.657 days, at an inclination of 160° to the ecliptic (162° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.4311.

It was named in March 2005 after Aœde, one of the three original Muses. Aœde was the Muse of song, and was a daughter of Zeus (Jupiter) by Mnemosyne. [ [http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iauc/08500/08502.html IAUC 8502: "Satellites of Jupiter"] 2005 March 30 (Naming the moon)]

Aoede belongs to the Pasiphaë 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°.

References