Planetary Satellites Named

By: David Tytell , Richard Tresch Fienberg July 25, 2003 0

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 1	Jupiter XXVIII	Autonoe
S/2001 J 2	Jupiter XXIX	Thyone
S/2001 J 3	Jupiter XXX	Hermippe
S/2001 J 11	Jupiter XXXI	Aitne
S/2001 J 4	Jupiter XXXII	Eurydome
S/2001 J 7	Jupiter XXXIII	Euanthe
S/2001 J 10	Jupiter XXXIV	Euporie
S/2001 J 9	Jupiter XXXV	Orthosie
S/2001 J 5	Jupiter XXXVI	Sponde
S/2001 J 8	Jupiter XXXVII	Kale
S/2001 J 6	Jupiter XXXVIII	Pasithee

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