Dia (moon)
Dia imaged by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in December 2001 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Yanga R. Fernández, and Eugene A. Magnier |
| Discovery site | Mauna Kea Obs. |
| Discovery date | 5 December 2000 11 September 2012 (rediscovery) |
| Designations | |
Designation | Jupiter LIII |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdaɪ.ə/ |
Named after | Δῖα Dīa |
| S/2000 J 11 | |
| Adjectives | Dian /ˈdaɪ.ən/ |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| 12118000 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.211 |
| +287.0 days | |
| 169.9° | |
| Inclination | 28.23° |
| 290.9° | |
| 178.0° | |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Group | Himalia group |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 4 km | |
| 22.4 | |
Dia /ˈdaɪ.ə/, also known as Jupiter LIII, is a prograde irregular satellite of Jupiter. Provisionally known as S/2000 J 11, it received its name on March 7, 2015. It is named after Dia, daughter of Deioneus (or Eioneus), wife of Ixion. According to Homer, she was seduced by Zeus in stallion form; Pirithous was the issue.
The satellite is one of several known small bodies in the Himalia group.
Dia is thought to be about 4 kilometres in diameter. It orbits Jupiter at an average distance of 12 million km in 274 days, at an inclination of 28° (to Jupiter's equator), and with an eccentricity of 0.21.