S/2021 J 6

S/2021 J 6
Discovery
Discovered by	Scott S. Sheppard; David J. Tholen; Chad Trujillo
Discovery site	Mauna Kea Obs.
Discovery date	5 September 2021
Orbital characteristics
	Epoch 25 February 2023 (JD 2460000.5)
Observation arc	12.04 yr (4,396 d)
Earliest precovery date	2 October 2010
Semi-major axis	0.1566013 AU (23,427,220 km)
Eccentricity	0.3625334
Orbital period (sidereal)	–2.01 yr (–732.55 days)
Mean anomaly	77.36574°
Mean motion	0° 29m 29.162s / day
Inclination	166.49991° (to ecliptic)
Longitude of ascending node	172.60903°
Argument of perihelion	254.84930°
Satellite of	Jupiter
Group	Carme group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	≈1 km
Apparent magnitude	23.9
Absolute magnitude (H)	17.3

S/2021 J 6 is a small outer natural satellite of Jupiter discovered by Scott S. Sheppard, David J. Tholen, and Chad Trujillo on 5 September 2021, using the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii. It was announced by the Minor Planet Center on 20 January 2023, after observations were collected over a long enough time span to confirm the satellite's orbit.^[1] The satellite has been found in precovery observations as early as 2 October 2010.^[1]

S/2021 J 6 is part of the Carme group, a tight cluster of retrograde irregular moons of Jupiter that follow similar orbits to Carme at semi-major axes between 22–24 million km (14–15 million mi), orbital eccentricities between 0.2–0.3, and inclinations between 163–166°.^[3] It has a diameter of about 1 km (0.62 mi) for an absolute magnitude of 17.3, making it one of Jupiter's smallest known moons.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "MPEC 2023-B50 : S/2021 J 6". Minor Planet Electronic Circulars. Minor Planet Center. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
^ "Planetary Satellite Discovery Circumstances". JPL Solar System Dynamics. NASA. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Sheppard, Scott S. "Moons of Jupiter". Earth & Planets Laboratory. Carnegie Institution for Science. Retrieved 10 January 2023.

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v t e Moons of Jupiter
Listed in increasing approximate distance from Jupiter
Inner moons	Metis Adrastea Amalthea Thebe
Galilean moons	Io Europa Ganymede Callisto
Themisto	Themisto
Himalia group (9)	Leda Ersa S/2018 J 2 Himalia Pandia Lysithea Elara S/2011 J 3 Dia
Carpo group (2)	S/2018 J 4 Carpo
Valetudo	Valetudo
Ananke group (26)	Euporie Jupiter LV Eupheme S/2021 J 3 Jupiter LII Jupiter LIV Mneme Euanthe S/2003 J 16 Harpalyke Orthosie S/2022 J 3 Helike S/2021 J 2 Praxidike Jupiter LXIV S/2021 J 1 S/2003 J 12 Jupiter LXVIII Thelxinoe Thyone S/2003 J 2 Ananke Iocaste Hermippe Jupiter LXX
Carme group (30)	S/2022 J 1 S/2022 J 2 S/2016 J 3 Pasithee Jupiter LXIX S/2021 J 6 S/2003 J 24 Chaldene Jupiter LXIII Isonoe S/2021 J 4 Kallichore Erinome Kale Eirene Aitne Eukelade Arche Taygete Jupiter LXXII Carme Herse Jupiter LXI Jupiter LI S/2003 J 9 Jupiter LXVI Kalyke S/2018 J 3 S/2021 J 5 S/2003 J 10
Pasiphae group (18)	Philophrosyne Eurydome Jupiter LVI S/2003 J 4 S/2016 J 4 Jupiter LXVII Hegemone Pasiphae Sponde Megaclite Cyllene Sinope Jupiter LIX Aoede Autonoe Callirrhoe S/2003 J 23 Kore
See also	Rings of Jupiter Jupiter's moons in fiction
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