Jupiter's moon Sinope (Jupiter IX)

[Guy Wells]

Jupiter's moon Sinope (Jupiter IX)

We have observed Jupiter's irregular satellite Sinope, at +18.4 mag. This is our 4th Jovian satellite, after Himalia, Elara and Pasiphae. We are the first observatory from the United Kingdom to submit data for this object.

Sinope was discovered in 1914 at Lick Observatory, USA. It is estimated to have a diameter of 38 km and a dark, red surface. This suggests that it may originate from the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune. Sinope orbits Jupiter in a highly eccentric retrograde orbit at an average distance of 23.5 million km, with a period of almost 2 years.

Here is an animation, showing Sinope in motion: https://media.giphy.com/media/xUA7aOn8sfRkh5Ce5i/giphy.gif

[John]

Excellent achievement Guy