Solar System -
Jupiter's Moons
Pasiphae Group
The Pasiphae Group of retrograde, irregular moons comprises eleven named moons. All these moons orbit Jupiter at average distances between 22.7 (was 22.8) and 24.1 million km. The orbits are highly eccentric. It is possible that the Pasiphae group formed after a captured asteroid broke up as a result of a low velocity collision, but Sinope is so large compared to Pasiphae itself, that this theory is not universally accepted. The orbits and inclinations of the various moons are very similar, but color measurements are not at all conclusive.
Name |
Diameter |
Orbit million km |
Period |
||
| Pasiphae | 58 km | 24.1 | 764.1 days | Its highly eccentric orbit varies between 17 and 31.2 million km. It is grey in color, and is the largest moon in the group. | |
| Sinope | 38 km | 23.5 | 724.1 days | It is a light red in color, rather different to Pasiphae, and its infrared spectrum is also different, implying it could have a different origin to other members of the group. | |
| Callirrhoe | 8.6 km | 24.1 | 758.8 days | ||
| Megaclite | 5.4 km | 24.7 | 792.4 days | ||
| Autonoe | 4.0 km | 24.3 | 772.2 days | ||
| Eurydome | 3.0 km | 23.2 | 723.4 days | ||
| Sponde | 2.0 km | 24.3 | 771.6 days | ||
| Hegemone | 3.0 km | 23.7 | 745.5 days | ||
| Cyllene | 2.0 km | 23.4 | 731.1 days | ||
| Aoede | 4.0 km | 23.0 | 714.7 days | ||
| Kore | 2.0 km | 23.2 | 723.7 days | ||
| Philophrosyne | 2.0 km | 22.7 | 699.7 days | Discovered in 2003 by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaii led by Scott S. Sheppard. |
Inner Moons • Io • Europa • Ganymede • Callisto • Himalia Group • Carme Group • Ananke Group • Pasiphae Group • Miscellaneous
Jupiter's moons are grouped as follows. Select to see details of the moon or the group of moons: