Pasithee.space

Irregular moon of Jupiter (retrograde) · Outer Jovian system · Carme group

Pasithee

Jupiter XXXVIII · S/2001 J 6

A two-kilometre moon named after one of the Graces — goddesses of charm and beauty.

Key factsSpace gift finder
Pasithee at a glance
Object typeIrregular, retrograde moon of Jupiter[1]
GroupCarme group[1]
DiscoveredDec. 11, 2001, Mauna Kea, Hawaii[2]
DiscoverersS. S. Sheppard, D. C. Jewitt, J. T. Kleyna[2]
NamedAugust 2003, after one of the Charites[1]
Diameter≈ 2 km[1]
Mean distance≈ 22.8 million km from Jupiter[3]
Orbital period≈ 705 days[3]
Inclination≈ 165° (retrograde)[3]
Eccentricity≈ 0.27[3]

A tiny Carme moon

Pasithee is about 2 km across, found in 2001 by Sheppard’s team and designated S/2001 J 6.[1] It belongs to the Carme group of retrograde moons at 23–24 million km.[1]

Light red, like its siblings

Carme-group moons are all very similar in colour — light red — except for Kalyke.[2] They probably came from a D-type asteroid broken by a collision.[2]

One of the Graces

Pasithee was named in August 2003 after one of the Charites, goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, creativity and fertility, daughters of Zeus by Eurynome.[1]

The Charites

According to Hesiod the Charites were Aglaia, Euphrosyne and Thalia, but their names, number and parentage varied between accounts.[4]

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Orbit

Pasithee orbits backwards between about 16.6 and 29.1 million km, once every 705 days.[3]

Jupiter Callisto (1.88 million km)Himalia (11.44 million km) farthest ≈ 29.1 million km closest ≈ 16.6 million km
Top-down orbit of Pasithee to scale, computed from JPL orbital elements (a ≈ 22.84 million km, e ≈ 0.274).[3] Callisto and Himalia orbits shown for comparison.[3] Mean orbital elements; the real orbit is tilted steeply and shifts over time, so this top-down view flattens it onto one plane.

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The Charites: goddesses of grace

Who were the Graces, and where does Pasithee fit?

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December 2001: eleven new moons

The survey that found Pasithee.

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How small is Pasithee?

Putting a two-kilometre moon in perspective.

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Sources

  1. Pasithee (moon) — Wikipedia
  2. Pasithee — NASA Science
  3. Planetary Satellite Mean Elements — NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
  4. Charites — Wikipedia
  5. Moons of Jupiter — Wikipedia

Figures are rounded; where sources differ we note it. Spotted an error? Tell us.