| 👁 Image Discovery images of Jupiter LXVIII from the Cerro Tololo Observatory's Dark Energy Camera on 23 March 2017 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Scott Sheppard et al. |
| Discovery date | 2017 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Jupiter LXVIII |
| S/2017 J 7 | |
| Orbital characteristics[1] | |
| Epoch 2026-01-01 | |
| Observation arc | 1 year 2018-05-17 (last obs)[2] |
| Periapsis | 17.1 million km |
| Apoapsis | 25.7 million km (2026-May-21)[3] |
| 20.2 million km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.193 |
| −632.3 days | |
| 82° | |
| Inclination | 144.6° |
| 347° | |
| 336° | |
| Satellite of | Jupiter |
| Group | Ananke group |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 2 km[4] | |
| 23.6 | |
| 16.6 (18 obs)[2] | |
Jupiter LXVIII, provisionally known as S/2017 J 7, is an outer natural satellite of Jupiter. It was discovered by Scott S. Sheppard and his team in 2017, but not announced until July 17, 2018, via a Minor Planet Electronic Circular from the Minor Planet Center.[5] It is about 2 kilometers in diameter[4] and orbits at a semi-major axis of about 20.2 million km with an inclination of about 144.6°. It belongs to the Ananke group.
It only has a 1 1⁄4 year observation arc with 18 observations. It will next come to apojove (farthest distance from Jupiter) on 21 May 2026 when it will be 0.166 AU (24.8 million km; 15.4 million mi) from Jupiter.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Horizons output. "Jovian Osculating Orbital Elements for 2017J7 (568)". Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ^ a b MPC Natural Satellites (Select: Orbital Elements)
- ^ a b "Apojove on 2026-May-21". JPL Horizons. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ^ a b S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Jupiter, Carnegie Science, on line
- ^ "MPEC 2018-O15 : S/2017 J 7". Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
