Harpalyke (moon)

Harpalyke, also known as , is a little [Prograde and Prograde and retrograde motion|retrograde motion|retrograde] irregular satellite of Jupiter.

Discovery and Naming

It was discovered by a team of astronomers from the University of Hawaiʻi led by Scott S. Sheppard in 2000, and given the temporary designation .
In August 2003, the moon was named after Harpalyce, the incestuous daughter of Clymenus, who in some accounts was also a lover of Zeus (Jupiter).

Orbit

The satellite orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 21,280,180 km in 634.19 days, at an inclination of 148° to the ecliptic with an eccentricity of 0.160. Its orbit is continuously changing due to solar and planetary perturbations.
It belongs to the Ananke group, made up a tightly of irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at a distance ranging between 19–22 million km, inclinations between 144 and 156°, and eccentricities between 0.10 and 0.30.

Physical characteristics

It is about 4 kilometres in diameter and appears grey, similar to C-type asteroids.

Origin

Iocaste probably did not form near Jupiter but was captured by Jupiter later.Like the other members of the Ananke group, which have similar orbits, Iocaste is probably the remnant of a broken, captured heliocentric asteroid.