Jupiter's Moons

Being the largest planet it's not surprising to find out that it has the most moons. Take a look below the table to see an animation of the more inclined orbits.

#	Name	Distance (x1000km)	Diameter (km)	Mass (kg ×10¹⁶)	Inclination (deg.)	Year Found	Moon Group
1	Metis	128	60×40 ×34	3.6	0.06°	1979	Inner
2	Adrastea	129	20×16 ×14	0.2	0.03°	1979	Inner
3	Amalthea	181	250×146 ×128	208	0.37°	1892	Inner
4	Thebe	222	116 ×98×84	43	1.08°	1979	Inner
5	Io	422	3,660.0 ×3,637.4 ×3,630.6	8.9×10²²	0.05°	1610	Galilean
6	Europa	671	3,121.60	4.8×10²²	0.47°	1610	Galilean
7	Ganymede	1,070	5,262.40	1.5×10²³	0.20°	1610	Galilean
8	Callisto	1,883	4,820.60	1.1×10²³	0.20°	1610	Galilean
9	Themisto	7,393	8	0.069	45.76°	1975/2000	Themisto
10	Leda	11,188	16	0.6	27.56°	1974	Himalia
11	Himalia	11,452	170	670	30.49°	1904	Himalia
12	Lysithea	11,741	36	6.3	27.01°	1938	Himalia
13	Elara	11,778	86	87	29.69°	1905	Himalia
14	S/2000 J 11	12,570	4	0.009	27.58°	2001	Himalia
15	Carpo	17,145	3	0.0045	56.00°	2003	Carpo
16	S/2003 J 12	17,740	1	0.00015	142.68°	2003	?
17	Euporie	19,088	2	0.0015	144.69°	2002	Ananke
18	S/2003 J 3	19,622	2	0.0015	146.36°	2003	Ananke
19	S/2003 J 18	19,813	2	0.0015	147.40°	2003	Ananke
20	Thelxinoe	20,454	2	0.0015	151.29°	2003	Ananke
21	Euanthe	20,465	3	0.0045	143.41°	2002	Ananke
22	Helike	20,540	4	0.009	154.59°	2003	Ananke
23	Orthosie	20,568	2	0.0015	142.37°	2002	Ananke
24	Iocaste	20,723	5	0.019	147.25°	2001	Ananke
25	S/2003 J 16	20,744	2	0.0015	150.77°	2003	Ananke
26	Praxidike	20,824	7	0.043	144.21°	2001	Ananke
27	Harpalyke	21,064	4	0.012	147.22°	2001	Ananke
28	Mneme	21,130	2	0.0015	149.73°	2003	Ananke
29	Hermippe	21,182	4	0.009	151.24°	2002	Ananke?
30	Thyone	21,406	4	0.009	147.28°	2002	Ananke
31	Ananke	21,455	28	3	151.56°	1951	Ananke
32	Herse	22,134	2	0.0015	162.49°	2003	Carme
33	Aitne	22,285	3	0.0045	165.56°	2002	Carme
34	Kale	22,409	2	0.0015	165.39°	2002	Carme
35	Taygete	22,439	5	0.016	164.89°	2001	Carme
36	S/2003 J 19	22,709	2	0.0015	164.73°	2003	Carme
37	Chaldene	22,713	4	0.0075	167.07°	2001	Carme
38	S/2003 J 15	22,721	2	0.0015	141.81°	2003	Ananke?
39	S/2003 J 10	22,731	2	0.0015	163.81°	2003	Carme?
40	S/2003 J 23	22,740	2	0.0015	148.85°	2004	Pasiphaë
41	Erinome	22,986	3	0.0045	163.74°	2001	Carme
42	Aoede	23,044	4	0.009	160.48°	2003	Pasiphaë
43	Kallichore	23,112	2	0.0015	164.61°	2003	Carme?
44	Kalyke	23,181	5	0.019	165.51°	2001	Carme
45	Carme	23,198	46	13	165.05°	1938	Carme
46	Callirrhoe	23,215	9	0.087	139.85°	2000	Pasiphaë
47	Eurydome	23,231	3	0.0045	149.32°	2002	Pasiphaë?
48	Pasithee	23,307	2	0.0015	165.76°	2002	Carme
49	Kore	23,345	2	0.0015	137.37°	2003	Pasiphaë
50	Cyllene	23,396	2	0.0015	140.15°	2003	Pasiphaë
51	Eukelade	23,484	4	0.009	164.00°	2003	Carme
52	S/2003 J 4	23,571	2	0.0015	147.18°	2003	Pasiphaë
53	Pasiphaë	23,609	60	30	141.80°	1908	Pasiphaë
54	Hegemone	23,703	3	0.0045	152.51°	2003	Pasiphaë
55	Arche	23,717	3	0.0045	164.59°	2002	Carme
56	Isonoe	23,801	4	0.0075	165.13°	2001	Carme
57	S/2003 J 9	23,858	1	0.00015	164.98°	2003	Carme
58	S/2003 J 5	23,974	4	0.009	165.55°	2003	Carme
59	Sinope	24,058	38	7.5	153.78°	1914	Pasiphaë
60	Sponde	24,253	2	0.0015	154.37°	2002	Pasiphaë
61	Autonoe	24,264	4	0.009	151.06°	2002	Pasiphaë
62	Megaclite	24,687	5	0.021	150.40°	2001	Pasiphaë
63	S/2003 J 2	30,291	2	0.0015	153.52°	2003	?

Many of the smaller moons are captured asteroids and have a high inclination. The animation below shows some of these moons. The red line is Jupiter's path around the Sun.

Moon Inclination Animation

Metis & Adrastea

Metis is Jupiter's innermost moon. It works with Adrastea to shepherd Jupiter's Rings. They are so small we don't have good images of them. Here is Metis (right) & Adrastea (right):

Amalthea

Amalthea is another one of Jupiter's innermost moons. It helps to shepherd Jupiter's Rings. Like the other innermost moons it is small enough that it is not round:

Jupiter also has rings.

Thebe

Thebe is another one of Jupiter's innermost moons. Like the other innermost moons it is small enough that it is not round:

Jupiter also has rings.| Back to Jupiter | Back to Home