Leda (moon)

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For the main belt asteroid, see 38 Leda.
Discovered by Charles T. Kowal
Discovery date September 11, 1974[1]
Adjectives Ledean
Orbital characteristics
Mean orbit radius
11,160,000 km[2]
Eccentricity 0.16[2]
240.92 d (0.654 a)[2]
3.4 km/s
Inclination 27.46° (to the ecliptic)
29.01° (to Jupiter's equator)[2]
Satellite of Jupiter
Physical characteristics
Mean radius
10 km
~1250 km²
Volume ~4200 km³
Mass 1.1×1016 kg
Mean density
2.6 g/cm³ (assumed)
~0.0073 m/s2 (0.001 g)
~0.012 km/s
Albedo 0.04 (assumed)
Temperature ~124 K

Leda (/ˈldə/ LEE-də; Greek: Λήδα), also known as Jupiter XIII, is a prograde irregular satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by Charles T. Kowal at the Mount Palomar Observatory on September 14, 1974, after three nights' worth of photographic plates had been taken (September 11 through 13; Leda appears on all of them).[1][4] It was named after Leda, who was a lover of Zeus, the Greek equivalent of Jupiter (who came to her in the form of a swan). Kowal suggested the name and the IAU endorsed it in 1975.[5]

Leda belongs to the Himalia group, five moons orbiting between 11 and 13 Gm from Jupiter at an inclination of about 27.5°.[2] The orbital elements given here are as of January 2000, but they are continuously changing due to solar and planetary perturbations.

In fiction[edit]

  • The 1956 British film Fire Maidens from Outer Space was set on Jupiter's 13th moon, although this film was made before the discovery of Leda in 1974.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b Kowal, C. T.; Aksnes, K.; Marsden, B. G.; Roemer, E. (1974). "Thirteenth satellite of Jupiter". Astronomical Journal 80: 460–464. Bibcode:1975AJ.....80..460K. doi:10.1086/111766. 
  2. ^ a b c d e Jacobson, R. A. (2000). "The orbits of outer Jovian satellites". Astronomical Journal 120 (5): 2679. Bibcode:2000AJ....120.2679J. doi:10.1086/316817. 
  3. ^ "Leda Statistics". Retrieved 2007-10-01. 
  4. ^ IAUC 2702: Probable New Satellite of Jupiter 1974 September (discovery)
  5. ^ Marsden, B. G. (7 October 1974). "Satellites of Jupiter". IAUC Circular 2846. 

External links[edit]