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 |
Distance from Jupiter Δ |
Orbital Period |
Rotation Period |
Inclination |
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 |
40 |
11,740 |
259.6528 |
0.5 |
24.77 |
Euporie |
1 |
19,390 |
553.1 R |
ND |
147 |
Harpalyke |
2.2 |
21,110 |
623.3 R |
ND |
148.7 |
Praxidike |
3.4 |
21,150 |
625.3 R |
ND |
148.7 |
Iocaste |
2.6 |
21,270 |
631.5 R |
ND |
159.7 |
Ananke |
10 |
21,280 |
629.8 R |
ND |
148.9 |
Arche |
1.5 |
22,930 |
723.9 R |
ND |
165 |
Pasithee |
1 |
23,100 |
716.3 R |
ND |
165.4 |
Kale |
1 |
23,220 |
729.5 R |
ND |
165 |
Isonoe |
1.9 |
23,220 |
725.5 R |
ND |
165 |
Erinome |
1.6 |
23,280 |
728.3 R |
ND |
164.9 |
Taygete |
2.5 |
23,360 |
732.2 R |
ND |
165.2 |
Carme |
15 |
23,400 |
734.2 R |
ND |
164.9 |
Kalyke |
2.6 |
23,580 |
743 R |
ND |
165.2 |
Pasiphae |
18 |
23,620 |
743.6 R |
ND |
151.4 |
Megaclite |
2.7 |
23,810 |
752.8 R |
ND |
152.8 |
Callirrhoe |
4 |
24,100 |
758.8 R |
ND |
147.1 |
Cyllene |
2 |
24,350 |
737.8 R |
ND |
149.3 |
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.