Helike (moon)
Helike /ˈhɛləkiː/, also known as Jupiter XLV, is a moon of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2003, and given the temporary designation S/2003 J 6.
Images of Helike by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in February 2003 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard et al. |
| Discovery date | 2003 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Jupiter XLV |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhɛləkiː/ |
Named after | Ἑλίκη Helicē |
Alternative names | S/2003 J 6 |
| Adjectives | Helikean /hɛləˈkiːən/ |
| Orbital characteristics | |
Semi-major axis | 21263000 km |
| Eccentricity | 0.156 |
Orbital period (sidereal) | −634.8 days |
Mean anomaly | 36.2° |
| Inclination | 154.8° |
Longitude of ascending node | 100.3° |
| 314.7° | |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Group | Ananke group |
| Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 4 km |
| 22.6 | |
Helike is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 20.54 million kilometres in 601.402 days, at an inclination of 155° to the ecliptic (156° to Jupiter's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.1375. Its average orbital speed is 2.48 km/s.
It was named in March 2005 after Helike, one of the nymphs that nurtured Zeus (Jupiter) in his infancy on Crete.
Helike belongs to the Ananke group.
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