Erinome.space

Irregular moon of Jupiter (retrograde) · Outer Jovian system · Carme group

Erinome

Jupiter XXV · S/2000 J 4

A three-kilometre moon named for a myth that survives only in garbled Latin manuscripts.

Key factsStargazing kit picker
Erinome at a glance
Object typeIrregular, retrograde moon of Jupiter[1]
GroupCarme group[1]
DiscoveredNov. 23, 2000, Mauna Kea, Hawaii[2]
DiscoverersS. S. Sheppard, D. C. Jewitt, Y. R. Fernandez, E. Magnier[2]
NamedOctober 2002, after Erinoma of Latin myth[1]
Diameter≈ 3 km[1]
ColourLight red, like most Carme-group moons[2]
Mean distance≈ 23.0 million km from Jupiter[3]
Orbital period≈ 714 days[3]
Inclination≈ 164° (retrograde)[3]
Eccentricity≈ 0.27[3]

A small backwards moon

Erinome is about 3 km across and orbits Jupiter in a retrograde direction, tilted about 164° to the ecliptic.[1][3] It was found by Scott Sheppard’s University of Hawaiʻi team in 2000 and given the temporary designation S/2000 J 4.[1]

Carme family

Erinome belongs to the Carme group. NASA describes the group as probably beginning as a D-type asteroid that broke apart in a collision; the largest piece, Carme, still holds 99% of the group’s mass.[2]

A myth known only in Latin

The moon was named in October 2002 after Erinoma, a Cypriot woman. The story survives only in Latin, and manuscripts spell her name Erinoma, Erinona and Erittoma. The original Greek name — and so where the stress falls — is unknown.[1]

A twist in the story

The discovery group described her as “compelled by Venus to fall in love with Jupiter.” In the surviving myths, though, it is Jupiter whom Venus makes fall in love with Erinoma, in order to ruin her.[1] The final “a” was changed to “e” because the moon is retrograde.[1]

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Orbit

Erinome’s distance from Jupiter swings between about 16.8 and 29.3 million km over roughly 714 days.[3]

Jupiter Callisto (1.88 million km)Himalia (11.44 million km) farthest ≈ 29.3 million km closest ≈ 16.8 million km
Top-down orbit of Erinome to scale, computed from JPL orbital elements (a ≈ 23.03 million km, e ≈ 0.272).[3] Callisto and Himalia orbits shown for comparison.[3] Mean orbital elements; the real orbit is tilted steeply and shifts over time, so this top-down view flattens it onto one plane.

See Jupiter for yourself

Erinome is far too faint for backyard telescopes, but Jupiter and its four big moons are easy targets. Our stargazing kit picker helps you choose a simple starter setup.

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Erinoma: the myth that lost its Greek name

How a Cypriot story survived only in Latin — with three spellings and a reversed plot.

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How many moons does Jupiter have?

From four to 115 — and why the count keeps climbing.

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Erinome and the Carme family

Same orbit, same colour, same origin: what links Jupiter’s Carme moons.

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Sources

  1. Erinome (moon) — Wikipedia
  2. Erinome — NASA Science
  3. Planetary Satellite Mean Elements — NASA JPL Solar System Dynamics
  4. Moons of Jupiter — Wikipedia
  5. Carme group — Wikipedia

Figures are rounded; where sources differ we note it. Spotted an error? Tell us.