Ananke (moon)

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Ananke
Discovery
Discovered by

S. B. Nicholson

Discovery date

September 28, 1951

Orbital characteristics
Periapsis

12,567,000 km

Apoapsis

29,063,500 km

Mean orbit radius

Eccentricity
Orbital period
Average orbital speed

21,280,000 km[1]
0.24[1]
610.45 d (1.680 a)[1]
2.367 km/s

Inclination

148.89 (to the ecliptic)

149.9 (to Jupiter's
equator)[1]

Satellite of

Jupiter

Physical characteristics
Mean radius

14 km[2]

Surface area

~2500 km

Volume

~11,500 km

Mass

3.0 1016 kg

Mean density

2.6 g/cm (assumed)

Equatorial
surface gravity

0.010 m/s2 (0.001 g)

Escape velocity

~0.017 km/s

Albedo
Temperature

0.04 (assumed)[2]
~124 K

Ananke (pronounced /nki/ -NANG-kee, or as in Greek ) is a retrograde irregular

satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by Seth Barnes Nicholson at Mount Wilson Observatory in
1951[3] and is named after the mythological Ananke, the personification of Necessity, and the
mother of the Moirae by Zeus. The adjectival form of the name is Anankean.
Ananke did not receive its present name[4] until 1975;[5] before then, it was simply known as
Jupiter XII. It was sometimes called "Adrastea"[6] between 1955 and 1975 (Adrastea is now the
name of another satellite of Jupiter).
Ananke gives its name to the Ananke group, retrograde irregular moons which orbit Jupiter
between 19.3 and 22.7 Gm, at inclinations of roughly 150.[2]

Contents
[hide]

1 Orbit

2 Physical characteristics

3 See also

4 References

5 External links

[edit] Orbit
Retrograde irregular satellites of Jupiter.
Ananke orbits Jupiter on a high eccentricity and high inclination retrograde orbit. Eight irregular
satellites discovered since 2000 follow similar orbits.[2] The orbital elements are as of January
2000.[1] They are continuously changing due to Solar and planetary perturbations. The diagram
illustrates Ananke's orbit in relation to other retrograde irregular satellites of Jupiter. The
eccentricity of selected orbits is represented by the yellow segments (extending from the
pericentre to the apocentre). The outermost regular satellite Callisto is located for reference.
Given these orbital elements and the physical characteristics known so far, Ananke is thought to
be the largest remnant[7] of an original break-up forming the Ananke group.[8][9]

[edit] Physical characteristics

In the visible spectrum, Ananke appears neutral to light-red (colour indices B-V=0.90 V-R=0.38).
[9]

The infrared spectrum is similar to P-type asteroids but with a possible indication of water.[10]