Iocaste

 

Iocaste, also known as Jupiter XXIV, is one of Jupiter's moons. It is a member of the Ananke group, a cluster of small moons that orbit Jupiter in a retrograde direction, meaning they orbit in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation. Iocaste was discovered in 2000 by astronomers Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, and Jan T. Kleyna, using observations from the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii.

Here are some key details about Iocaste:

1. Size and Characteristics: Iocaste, like other moons in the Ananke group, is relatively small and has an irregular shape. These irregularly shaped moons are believed to be composed of a mixture of rock and ice.

2. Orbit: Iocaste follows a retrograde orbit around Jupiter, which means it orbits in the opposite direction of Jupiter's rotation. The orbits of moons in the Ananke group are often distant from Jupiter and have significant inclinations relative to the planet's equator.

3. Name Origin: The name Iocaste is derived from Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Iocaste (also known as Jocasta) was a character from the tragic story of Oedipus. She was the mother and, unknowingly, the wife of Oedipus.

4. Exploration: As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, there haven't been any dedicated space missions to study Iocaste specifically. Most of the information about this moon and others in its group comes from observations made by telescopes and spacecraft like the Galileo orbiter.

   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

    

   This website was Designed & developed by BHUVANESH_M

 

Share on