Thelxinoe (moon)

Thelxinoe
Discovery
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard et al.
Discovery date2003
Designations
Designation
Jupiter XLII
Pronunciation/θɛlkˈsɪn./[1]
Named after
Θελξινόη Thelxĭnoē
S/2003 J 22
AdjectivesThelxinoean /ˌθɛlksɪnˈən/
Orbital characteristics[2]
21162000 km
Eccentricity0.221
−628.1 days
194.0°
Inclination151.4°
206.2°
179.8°
Satellite ofJupiter
GroupAnanke group
Physical characteristics
2 km
23.5

Thelxinoe /θɛlkˈsɪn./, also known as Jupiter XLII, 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 2004 from pictures taken in 2003, and originally received the temporary designation S/2003 J 22.[3][4]

Thelxinoe is about 2 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 20,454 Mm in 597.607 days, at an inclination of 151° to the ecliptic (153° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.2685.

It was named in March 2005 after Thelxinoe, one of the four original Muses according to some Greek writers, and a daughter of Zeus (Jupiter) by Mnemosyne.[5]

Thelxinoe belongs to the Ananke group, retrograde irregular moons that orbit Jupiter between 19.3 and 22.7 Gm, at inclinations of roughly 150°.

  1. ^ Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
  2. ^ S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Jupiter, Carnegie Science, on line
  3. ^ Daniel W. E. Green (January 25, 2004). "IAUC 8276: S/2003 J 22". International Astronomical Union.
  4. ^ Brian G. Marsden (January 24, 2004). "MPEC 2004-B41: S/2003 J 22". International Astronomical Union Minor Planet Center.
  5. ^ Daniel W. E. Green (March 30, 2005). "IAUC 8502: Satellites of Jupiter". International Astronomical Union.