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Elara (moon)
moon of Jupiter / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Elara is a non-spherical moon of Jupiter. It was found by Charles Dillon Perrine at Lick Observatory in 1905[1][2] and is named after the mother by Zeus of the giant Tityus.[5]
Quick Facts Discovery, Discovered by ...
![]() Elara near the glare of bright Jupiter | |
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | C. D. Perrine |
Discovery date | January 5, 1905[1][2] |
Orbital characteristics | |
Mean orbit radius | 11,740,000 km (0.07810 AU)[3] |
Eccentricity | 0.22[3] |
259.64 d (0.708 a)[3] | |
Average orbital speed | 3.27 km/s[3] |
Inclination | 26.63° (to the ecliptic) 30.66° (to Jupiter's equator)[3] |
Satellite of | Jupiter |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean radius | 43 km[4] |
~23,200 km2 | |
Volume | ~333,000 km3 |
Mass | 8.7×1017 kg |
Mean density | 2.6 g/cm3 (assumed)[4] |
~0.031 m/s2 (0.003 g) | |
~0.052 km/s | |
Sidereal rotation period | ~0.5 d (12 h) |
Albedo | 0.04 (assumed)[4] |
Temperature | ~124 K |
16.3[4] | |
Close
Elara did not get its present name until 1975; before then, it was simply known as Jupiter VII. It was sometimes called "Hera"[6] between 1955 and 1975.
Elara belongs to the Himalia group, five moons orbiting between 11,000,000 and 13,000,000 km from Jupiter at an inclination of about 27.5°.[3] Its orbital elements are as of January 2000. They are changing a lot due to Solar and planetary perturbations.