Valetudo (moon)

Valetudo /vælɪˈtjuːdoʊ/, also known as Jupiter LXII and originally known as S/2016 J 2, is a moon of Jupiter.[3][4] It was discovered by Scott S. Sheppard and his team in data reaching back to 2016, but was not announced until 17 July 2018, via a Minor Planet Electronic Circular from the Minor Planet Center, which also reported the discovery of nine other Jupiter moons.[1]

Valetudo
Discovery[1]
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard
Discovery siteLas Campanas Obs.
Discovery date9 March 2017
Designations
Designation
Jupiter LXII
Pronunciation/vælɪˈtjuːdoʊ/
Named after
Valētūdo
S/2016 J 2
AdjectivesValetudian
Orbital characteristics [1]
Epoch 23 March 2018 (JD 2458200.5)
Observation arc2.18 yr (798 d)
18,928,090 km (0.1265265 AU)
Eccentricity0.2219283
1.46 yr (532.01 d)
201.41718°
0° 40m 36.065s / day
Inclination34.01457° (to the ecliptic)
240.25920°
116.83071°
Satellite ofJupiter
Group(own group)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
1 km[2]
24.0[2]
16.9

    Characteristics

    Valetudo has a diameter of about 1 km (0.6 mi) and orbits Jupiter at a distance of about 19 million kilometres (12 million miles). Its orbital inclination is 34 degrees, and its orbital eccentricity is 0.222.[2] It has a prograde orbit, but it crosses paths with several other moons that have retrograde orbits and may in the future collide with them.[5]

    Name

    The moon was provisionally designated as S/2016 J 2 until it received its name in 2018. The name Valetudo ('Health') was proposed for it as part of its announcement, after the Roman goddess of health and hygiene (a Latin translation of Greek Hygieia 'Health') and a great-granddaughter of the god Jupiter.[5] The name was approved by the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature on 3 October 2018.[6]

    References
    1. "MPEC 2018-O09 : S/2016 J 2". Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
    2. Sheppard, Scott S. "Moons of Jupiter". sites.google.com. Google. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
    3. Resnick, Brian. "The Jupiter Satellite and Moon Page". Vox. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
    4. Grush, Loren. "Astronomers have found a new crop of moons around Jupiter, and one of them is a weirdo". The Verge. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
    5. Strickland, Ashley. "12 new moons discovered around Jupiter". CNN International. CNN. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
    6. USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Nomenclature News: Name Approved for Jovian Satellite: Valetudo
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