[026] Isonoe

Isonoe /aɪˈsɒnoʊ.iː/, also known as Jupiter XXVI, is a little 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 S/2000 J 6.^[7][1]

It was named in October 2002 after Isonoe, one of the Danaïdes in Greek mythology, and a lover of Zeus (Jupiter).^[8]

Orbit

Isonoe orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 23,322,670 km in 691,62 days, at an inclination of 165° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.226.

It belongs to the Carme group, made up a tightly of irregular retrograde moons orbiting Jupiter at a distance ranging between 22.7–23.5 million km, at an inclination of about 165°, and eccentricities between 0.24 and 0.28.

Physical characteristics

Isonoe's estimated diameter is 4 kilometers, assuming an albedo of 4%.

Like the other members of the Carme group (Exception Kalyke) it is light red in color (B–V = 0.78 ± 0.05, V–R = 0.53 ± 0.04),^[4] similar to D-type asteroids.