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Planetary Satellites Named

July 25, 2003
by David Tytell , Richard Tresch Fienberg

Jupiter by Cassini
Jupiter, seen here in a true color image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, is the king of the planetary moons. With 61 identified satellites, it tops the nearest contender, Saturn, by 30 objects.
Courtesy NASA/JPL/University of Arizona.
At the 25th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, held from July 13–26 in Sydney, Australia, the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature announced the names of two dozen planetary satellites discovered since 2000. On the list were 11 Jovian moons, 12 Saturnian moons, and one around Uranus.

Six of Jupiter's moons were named for conquests of the Greek god Zeus and five for the daughters of Zeus. The Saturnian satellites were named for Norse, Inuit, or Gallic giants. Uranus's moon was named Trinculo, for a character in William Shakespeare's The Tempest.

For more information about planetary moons, visit Sky & Telescope's Guide to Planetary Satellites.

Newly Named Satellites of Jupiter
Temporary Designation Formal Designation Name
S/2001 J  1Jupiter XXVIII Autonoe
S/2001 J  2Jupiter XXIX   Thyone
S/2001 J  3Jupiter XXX    Hermippe
S/2001 J 11Jupiter XXXI   Aitne
S/2001 J  4Jupiter XXXII  Eurydome
S/2001 J  7Jupiter XXXIII Euanthe
S/2001 J 10Jupiter XXXIV  Euporie
S/2001 J  9Jupiter XXXV   Orthosie
S/2001 J  5Jupiter XXXVI  Sponde
S/2001 J  8Jupiter XXXVII Kale
S/2001 J  6Jupiter XXXVIIIPasithee

Newly Named Satellites of Saturn
Temporary Designation Formal Designation Name
S/2000 S  1Saturn XIX   Ymir
S/2000 S  2Saturn XX    Paaliaq
S/2000 S  4Saturn XXI   Tarvos
S/2000 S  6Saturn XXII  Ijiraq
S/2000 S 12Saturn XXIII Suttung
S/2000 S  5Saturn XXIV  Kiviuq
S/2000 S  9Saturn XXV   Mundilfari
S/2000 S 11Saturn XXVI  Albiorix
S/2000 S  8Saturn XXVII Skadi
S/2000 S 10Saturn XXVIIIErriapo
S/2000 S  3Saturn XXIX  Siarnaq
S/2000 S  7Saturn XXX   Thrym

Newly Named Satellite of Uranus
Temporary Designation Formal Designation Name
S/2001 U 1Uranus XXITrinculo



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