Table III

 

TABLE III
ORBITAL PARAMETERS OF SATELLITES OF JUPITER*

C = Newly discovered satellites S/2000 J2 to S/2011 J2 have orbital periods from 504 to 982.5; all exhibit reverse ‘motion’ and orbital  inclination from 140.8 to 165.  Numerous peripheral newly discovered unnamed satellite are not included in this Table. Most of them rotate negatively.
 S=Synchronous rotation (rotation period is the same as orbital period) R=Retrograde rotation ND= No data available Δ Distance from Jupiter (103km) = Semi-major Axis*Adapted from:http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/joviansatfact.html 16 July 201 Reproduced with kind permission of Physics Essays Publication, http://physicsessays.org/ with modifications.

Satellites:

Radius
(Km)

Distance from Jupiter Δ
(103Km)

Orbital Period
(Days)

Rotation Period
(Days)

Inclination
(Degrees)

A) Galilean:

 

 

 

 

 

Io

1,821.6

421.8

1.769138

S

0.04

Europa

1,560.8

671.1

3.551181

S

0.47

Ganymede

2,631.2

1,070.4

7.154553

S

0.18

Callisto

2,410.3

1,882.7

16.689017

S

0.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

B) ‘Lesser’

 

 

 

 

 

Metis

30x20x17

128

0.294779

S

0.06

Adrastea

10x8x7

129

0.298260

S

0.03

Amalthea

125x73x64

181.4

0.498179

S

0.40

Thebe

58x49x42

221.9

0.6745

S

0.8

Themisto

4

7,507

132.02

ND

45.67

Leda

5

11,170

240.92

ND

27.47

Himalia

85

11,460

250.5662

0.4

27.63

Lysithea

12

11,720

259.22

ND

27.35

Elara
S/2000 J11
Carpo (S/2003 J20)

40
2.0
3.0

11,740
12,560
16,990

259.6528
287.0
456.1

0.5
ND
ND

24.77
28.2
51.4

Euporie
Orthosie
Euanthe
Thyone
Mneme

1
1
1.5
2
2

19,390
20,720
20,800
20,940
21,070

553.1 R
622.6 R
620.6 R
627.3 R
620.0 R

ND
ND
ND
ND
ND

147
145.9
148.9
148.5
148.6

Harpalyke
Hermippe

2.2
2

21,110
21,130

623.3 R
633.9 R

ND
ND

148.7
150.7

Praxidike
Thelxinoe
Helike

3.4
2.0
4.0

21,150
21,160
21,260

625.3 R
628.1 R
634.8 R

ND
ND
ND

148.7
151.4
154.8

Iocaste

2.6

21,270

631.5 R

ND

159.7

Ananke
Eurydome

10
1.5

21,280
22,870

629.8 R
717.3 R

ND
ND

148.9
150.3

Arche
Autonoe
Herse

1.5
2
2

22,930
23,040
23,097

723.9 R
762.7 R
715.4 R

ND
ND
ND

165
152.9
164.2

Pasithee
Chaldene

1
1.9

23,100
23,180

716.3 R
723.8 R

ND
ND

165.4
165.4

Kale

1

23,220

729.5 R

ND

165

Isonoe
Aitne

1.9
1.5

23,220
23,230

725.5 R
730.2 R

ND
ND

165
165.1

Erinome

1.6

23,280

728.3 R

ND

164.9

Taygete

2.5

23,360

732.2 R

ND

165.2

Carme
Sponde

15
1

23,400
23,490

734.2 R
748.3 R

ND
ND

164.9
151

Kalyke

2.6

23,580

743 R

ND

165.2

Pasiphae
Eukelade

18
4

23,620
23,660

743.6 R
746.4 R

ND
ND

151.4
165.5

Megaclite
Sinope
Hegemono
Aoede
Kallichore

2.7
14
3
4
2

23,810
23,940
23,950
23,980
24,040

752.8 R
758.9 R
739.6 R
761.5 R
764.7 R

ND
ND
ND
ND
ND

152.8
158.1
155.2
158.3
165.5

Callirrhoe

4

24,100

758.8 R

ND

147.1

Cyllene
Kore

2
2

24,350
24,540

737.8 R
779.2 R

ND
ND

149.3
152.4

 

 

 

Table III: This table lists the satellites of the gas giant Jupiter, as a representative of all the gas/ice giants, all of which have multiple satellites.  It clearly shows the progression of the orbital motions of the satellites from, “synchronous rotation” in the closest moons with no or very limited axial tilts (in the first seven satellites, Io to Thebe), to nonsynchronous rotation in the satellites that are farther away and with intermediate degrees of axial tilts, but less than 90o  (Next 7 satellites, Themisto to Carpo).  Finally, all peripheral, small satellites display ‘negative rotation’ (opposite to the normal, counterclockwise rotation) and have axial tilts over -140o (all peripheral satellites from Euporie onwards).   The major proximal satellites of Saturn and Uranus also display similar axial rotational, orbital relationships with their mother bodies. Data on Neptune’s satellites is unavailable.  We have offered detailed explanations of the above phenomena in our prior paper (1) but suffice it to stress that this table teaches us the way in which spin and gravity interact in most planetary systems in our solar system.