Universe & space

Discovery of S/2003 J 4

5 February 2003

S/2003 J 4 is a small irregular moon of Jupiter, found in 2003 during a survey of the outer regions of the giant planet's system. Like many of the planet's distant satellites, it follows a wide, tilted orbit that suggests it was captured rather than formed there. Moons of this kind are only a few kilometers across and can be seen only with large telescopes. It carries a provisional designation, which records the year of discovery and its place in the list of Jupiter's moons.

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