Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 25, 2026

Aoede (moon)

Aoede, also known as Jupiter XLI, is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2003. It received the temporary designation S/2003 J 7.

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Aoede
Discovery
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard et al.
Discovery date2003
Designations
Designation
Jupiter XLI
Pronunciation/eɪˈiːdiː/12
Named after
Ἀοιδή Aoidē
S/2003 J 7
AdjectivesAoedean /ˌeɪəˈdiːən/3
Orbital characteristics4
Observation arc23 years
2025-12-21 (last obs)5
24 million km
Eccentricity0.432
−761.5 days
Inclination158.3°
Satellite ofJupiter
GroupPasiphae group
Physical characteristics
  • 4 km4
  • 10 km6
Albedo0.04 (assumed)
22.54

Aoede /eɪˈiːdiː/, also known as Jupiter XLI, is a natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2003. It received the temporary designation S/2003 J 7.78

Aoede is about 4 kilometres in diameter,4 with an estimate as high as 10 km.6 The 4 km Minor Planet Center estimate is based on 74 observations for the absolute magnitude (H), while the 10 km estimate is based on 6 observations.

Aoede orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 24 million km in 762 days, at an inclination of 158°, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.432.4

It was named in March 2005 after Aœde, one of the three original Muses. Aœde was the Muse of song, and was a daughter of Zeus (Jupiter) by Mnemosyne.9

Aoede belongs to the Pasiphae group, irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at distances ranging between 22.8 and 24.1 million km, and with inclinations ranging between 144.5° and 158.3°.

References

References

  1. Aœde in Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
  2. "Aoede". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  3. J.W. Tufts (ca. 1887) The Aoedean Collection
  4. S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Jupiter, Carnegie Science, on line
  5. MPC Natural Satellites (Select: Orbital Elements)
  6. Emelyanov, N. V.; Varfolomeev, M. I.; Lainey, V. (24 March 2022). "New ephemerides of outer planetary satellites". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 512 (2): 2044–2050. doi:10.1093/mnras/stac586. (J41 in Table 4)
  7. IAUC 8087: Satellites of Jupiter 2003 March 4 (Discovery)
  8. MPEC 2003-E11: S/2003 J 1, 2003 J 2, 2003 J 3, 2003 J 4, 2003 J 5, 2003 J 6, 2003 J 7 2003 March 4 (Discovery and ephemeris)
  9. IAUC 8502: Satellites of Jupiter 2005 March 30 (Naming the moon)