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Jupiter Menu  

Jupiter's Moons

Jupiter is a huge planet with at least 95 moons known to orbit it. Its largest moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. These four moons were discovered in 1610 and were the first moons to be discovered orbiting any planet other than Earth. They are often referred to as the Galilean moons in recognition of Galileo Galilei, the astronomer who discovered them. Ganymede is tha largest of all of them. It isn't just the largest moon of Jupiter though - it's the largest in the whole solar system, even bigger than the planet Mercury.

Most of the rest of Jupiter's moons are quite small and are iikely to be asteroids that have been captured by Jupiter's gravity or fragments of other moons. Jupiter's moons are all named after partners or daughters of the Roman god Jupiter or its Greek equivalent Zeus. Not all moons yet have names so are given codenames which reference the year and order of discovery. For example, S/2017 J 5 means it's a satellite discovered in 2017 which orbits Jupiter and was the fifth one spotted that year.

Jupiter's moons are grouped into categories with other similar moons. These categories are proudly presented in our multi-coloured table of multiple colours. And following that is a list of Jupiter's moons displayed in order of distance from the mighty planet.


Inner Group
Jupiter's four inner moons. Their orbits are very circular and not very inclined. They orbit in the same direction as Jupiter spins. These orbit closely to Jupiter's rings and are likely to be made up from and also make up the material in the rings. This group is also sometimes called the Almathea Group.
Galilean Group
Jupiter's four largest moons, discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610. These are the only four spherical moons of Jupiter. Two of these moons (Ganymede and Callisto) are the two largest moons in the Solar System.
Not Grouped
These moons don't share any orbital similarities to any other moons of Jupiter so are not placed into any of the groups.
Himalia Group
Moons with a prograde orbit, with an inclination of about 27.5 degrees. Himalia is likely to be a captured asteroid which was involved in collisions. These collisions caused fragments to break off the asteroid, forming the other smaller moons in the group.
Carpo Group
Moons with a prograde orbit, with an inclination of about 54 degrees. There are currently just two moons in the group: Carpo and the unnamed moon S/2018 J 4.
Ananke Group
Moons with retrograde orbits between 18 million kilometres to 22 million kilometres from Jupiter, inclined at 145.7 to 154.8 degrees. Ananke is believed to be an asteroid captured by Jupiter and involved in a collision. The fragments that broke off from it formed the other moons in the group.
Carme Group
Retrograde moons orbiting at a distance of 23 to 24 million kilometres from Jupiter, inclined at 166 degrees. These moons are believed to have been created by an impact with the moon Carme. Most of Carme still exists but the fragments created the other moons.
Pasiphaë Group
Retrograde moons orbiting at a distance of 23 to 24 million kilometres from Jupiter, inclined at 144.5 to 158.3 degrees. They are believed to have formed from an asteroid about 60 km. Most of this asteroid is still the moon Pasiphae.

List of Jupiter's Moons

Name of Moon Diameter Orbital Distance Length of Orbit Discovered Discoverer Group
Metis 43 km 60 x 40 x 34
27 miles
128,000 km
79,535 miles
7 hours 1979 Stephen P. Synott Inner
Adrastea 16 km 20 x 16 x 14
10 miles
129,000 km
80,157 miles
7 hours 1979 David C. Jewitt, G. Edward Danielson Inner
Amalthea 167 km 250 x 146 x 128
104 miles
181,366 km
112,695 miles
12 hours 1892 Edward Emerson Barnard Inner
Thebe 99 km 116 x 98 x 84
61 miles
221,889 km
137,875 miles
16 hours 1979 Stephen P. Synott Inner
Io 3,643 km 3660 x 3637 x 3631
2,264 miles
421,700 km
262,032 miles
42 hours 1610 Galileo Galilei Galilean
Europa 3,122 km
1,940 miles
670,900 km
416,877 miles
85 hours 1610 Galileo Galilei Galilean
Ganymede 5,268 km
3,274 miles
1,070,400 km
665,114 miles
172 hours 1610 Galileo Galilei Galilean
Callisto 4,821 km
2,995 miles
1,882,700 km
1,169,853 miles
17 days 1610 Galileo Galilei Galilean
Themisto 9 km
6 miles
7,396,130 km
4,595,733 miles
139 days 1975 Charles T. Kowal, Elizabeth P. Roemer, Scott S. Shepherd and team (2000) Ungrouped
Leda 22 km
13 miles
11,195,980 km
6,956,846 miles
241 days 1974 Charles T. Kowal Himalia
Ersa 3 km
2 miles
11,348,700 km
7,051,742 miles
252 days 2018 Scott S. Sheppard and team Himalia
S/2018 J 2 3 km
2 miles
11,419,700 km
7,095,859 miles
249 days 2018 Scott S. Sheppard Himalia
Pandia 3 km
2 miles
11,462,300 km
7,122,329 miles
252 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Himalia
Himalia 140 km 150 x 120
87 miles
11,497,400 km
7,144,139 miles
251 days 1904 Charles D. Perrine Himalia
Lysithea 42 km
26 miles
11,628,300 km
7,225,477 miles
259 days 1938 Seth B Nicholson Himalia
Elara 80 km
50 miles
11,671,600 km
7,252,382 miles
260 days 1905 Charles D. Perrine Himalia
S/2011 J 3 3 km
2 miles
11,716,800 km
7,280,468 miles
259 days 2011 Scott S. Sheppard Himalia
Dia 4 km
2 miles
12,304,900 km
7,645,896 miles
287 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Himalia
S/2018 J 4 2 km
1 miles
16,328,500 km
10,146,040 miles
427 days 2018 Scott S. Sheppard Carpo
Carpo 3 km
2 miles
17,151,800 km
10,657,614 miles
256 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carpo
Valetudo 1 km
1 miles
18,819,000 km
11,693,562 miles
533 days 2016 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ungrouped
Europie 2 km
1 miles
19,593,900 km
12,175,062 miles
553 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Eupheme 2 km
1 miles
20,126,300 km
12,505,879 miles
504 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2003 J 18 2 km
1 miles
20,336,300 km
12,636,367 miles
598 days 2003 Brett J. Gladman and team Ananke
Helike 4 km
2 miles
20,479,500 km
12,725,347 miles
635 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Euanthe 3 km
2 miles
20,583,300 km
12,789,845 miles
621 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Hermippe 4 km
2 miles
20,666,200 km
12,841,357 miles
634 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Praxidike 7 km
4 miles
20,682,900 km
12,851,734 miles
625 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Thyone 4 km
2 miles
20,712,800 km
12,870,313 miles
627 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2021 J 3 2 km
1 miles
20,776,700 km
12,910,018 miles
618 days 2021 Scott S. Sheppard Ananke
S/2010 J 2 1 km
1 miles
20,793,000 km
12,920,146 miles
618 days 2010 Christian Veillet Ananke
S/2016 J 1 1 km
1 miles
20,802,600 km
12,926,112 miles
618 days 2016 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2003 J 16 2 km
1 miles
20,882,600 km
12,975,821 miles
622 days 2003 Brett J. Gladman and team Ananke
Thelxinoe 2 km
1 miles
20,893,300 km
12,982,470 miles
628 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2021 J 2 1 km
1 miles
20,926,600 km
13,003,161 miles
625 days 2021 Scott S. Sheppard Ananke
S/2017 J 3 2 km
1 miles
20,941,000 km
13,012,109 miles
625 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2021 J 1 1 km
1 miles
20,954,700 km
13,020,622 miles
627 days 2021 Scott S. Sheppard Ananke
S/2003 J 12 1 km
1 miles
20,963,100 km
13,025,841 miles
627 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2017 J 7 2 km
1 miles
20,964,800 km
13,026,898 miles
626 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2003 J 2 2 km
1 miles
20,997,700 km
13,047,341 miles
628 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Ananke 29 km
18 miles
21,042,500 km
13,075,178 miles
630 days 1951 Seth B Nicholson Ananke
S/2022 J 3 1 km
1 miles
21,047,700 km
13,078,409 miles
630 days 2022 Scott S. Sheppard Ananke
Mneme 2 km
1 miles
21,064,100 km
13,088,600 miles
620 days 2003 Brett J. Gladman and team Ananke
Orthosie 2 km
1 miles
21,171,000 km
13,155,024 miles
623 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Harpalyke 4 km
2 miles
21,280,200 km
13,222,878 miles
623 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Iocaste 5 km
3 miles
21,431,800 km
13,317,078 miles
631 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
S/2017 J 9 3 km
2 miles
21,768,700 km
13,526,417 miles
666 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Ananke
Erinome 3 km
2 miles
22,354,300 km
13,890,291 miles
728 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Aitne 3 km
2 miles
22,386,500 km
13,910,300 miles
730 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Herse 2 km
1 miles
22,408,800 km
13,924,156 miles
715 days 2003 Brett J. Gladman and team Carme
Taygete 5 km
3 miles
22,433,500 km
13,939,504 miles
732 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Eukelade 4 km
2 miles
22,576,700 km
14,028,484 miles
746 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Carme 47 km
29 miles
22,579,900 km
14,030,472 miles
734 days 1938 Seth B Nicholson Carme
S/2016 J 3 2 km
1 miles
22,719,300 km
14,117,091 miles
713 days 2016 Scott S. Sheppard Carme
S/2022 J 1 1 km
1 miles
22,725,200 km
14,120,758 miles
738 days 2022 Scott S. Sheppard Carme
Isonoe 4 km
2 miles
22,776,700 km
14,152,758 miles
725 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2017 J 8 1 km
1 miles
22,849,500 km
14,197,994 miles
719 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2021 J 6 1 km
1 miles
22,870,300 km
14,210,918 miles
720 days 2021 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2003 J 24 2 km
1 miles
22,887,400 km
14,221,544 miles
721 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team, Kai Ly Carme
S/2011 J 2 1 km
1 miles
22,909,200 km
14,235,090 miles
718 days 2011 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
S/2003 J 4 2 km
1 miles
22,926,500 km
14,245,839 miles
718 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Autonoe 4 km
2 miles
22,933,400 km
14,250,127 miles
763 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Philophrosyne 2 km
1 miles
22,939,900 km
14,254,166 miles
668 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
S/2017 J 2 2 km
1 miles
22,953,200 km
14,262,430 miles
724 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Cyllene 2 km
1 miles
22,965,200 km
14,269,886 miles
738 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Pasithee 2 km
1 miles
22,967,800 km
14,271,502 miles
716 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2022 J 2 1 km
1 miles
23,013,800 km
14,300,085 miles
781 days 2022 Scott S. Sheppard Carme
S/2021 J 4 1 km
1 miles
23,019,700 km
14,303,751 miles
728 days 2021 Scott S. Sheppard Carme
S/2016 J 4 1 km
1 miles
23,113,800 km
14,362,222 miles
727 days 2016 Scott S. Sheppard Pasiphae
Pasiphae 58 km
36 miles
23,119,300 km
14,365,639 miles
744 days 1908 Philibert J. Melotte Pasiphae
S/2011 J 1 2 km
1 miles
23,124,500 km
14,368,871 miles
733 days 2011 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Sponde 2 km
1 miles
23,146,500 km
14,382,541 miles
748 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
S/2003 J 19 2 km
1 miles
23,156,400 km
14,388,692 miles
734 days 2003 Brett J. Gladman and team Carme
S/2010 J 1 2 km
1 miles
23,189,800 km
14,409,446 miles
736 days 2010 Robert A. Jacobson and team Carme
S/2003 J 9 1 km
1 miles
23,199,400 km
14,415,411 miles
736 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2017 J 5 2 km
1 miles
23,206,200 km
14,419,636 miles
737 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Eurydome 3 km
2 miles
23,214,500 km
14,424,794 miles
717 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
S/2017 J 6 2 km
1 miles
23,245,300 km
14,443,932 miles
733 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Kalyke 7 km
4 miles
23,377,400 km
14,526,015 miles
743 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2018 J 3 1 km
1 miles
23,400,300 km
14,540,244 miles
747 days 2018 Scott S. Sheppard Carme
S/2021 J 5 2 km
1 miles
23,414,600 km
14,549,130 miles
747 days 2021 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Hegemone 3 km
2 miles
23,422,300 km
14,553,915 miles
740 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Kale 2 km
1 miles
23,512,200 km
14,609,776 miles
729 days 2001 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Kallichore 2 km
1 miles
23,552,900 km
14,635,065 miles
765 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2003 J 10 2 km
1 miles
23,576,300 km
14,649,606 miles
755 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
S/2017 J 1 2 km
1 miles
23,744,800 km
14,754,306 miles
756 days 2017 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
S/2003 J 23 2 km
1 miles
23,829,300 km
14,806,812 miles
760 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Chaldene 4 km
2 miles
23,848,300 km
14,818,618 miles
724 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Arche 3 km
2 miles
23,926,500 km
14,867,209 miles
724 days 2002 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Eirene 4 km
2 miles
23,934,500 km
14,872,180 miles
760 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Carme
Kore 2 km
1 miles
23,999,700 km
14,912,694 miles
779 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Megaclite 5 km
3 miles
24,212,300 km
15,044,797 miles
753 days 2000 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Aoede 4 km
2 miles
24,283,000 km
15,088,728 miles
761 days 2003 Scott S. Sheppard and team Pasiphae
Callirrhoe 10 km
6 miles
24,678,200 km
15,334,293 miles
759 days 1999 Spacewatch Pasiphae
Sinope 35 km
22 miles
24,864,100 km
15,449,806 miles
759 days 1914 Seth B Nicholson Pasiphae
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