On 21 November 2000, a new satellite of Jupiter was discovered by a CCD camera with a very wide field. The calculations showed that this satellite (S/2000 J1) had already been observed in 1975 by C. Kowal (S/1975 J1) but lost and never re-recorded since.

Since 2000, several new satellites were discovered, the majority from the family of "Himalia" (i.e. orbiting between 10 and 12 million kilometers from Jupiter) and rotating in the forward direction (i.e. with an inclination between 27 and 30 degrees). Their eccentricities are between 0.11 and 0.25 and their periods of revolution between 240 and 260 days. Two of them stand out: Themisto orbits 7.5 million kilometers from Jupiter and Carpo 17 millions.

For more information on the orbital parameters: click here.

These satellites have a magnitude of about 21 to 24 and a size of 3 to 8 km. Like all other small outer satellites of Jupiter, they are probably class C (carbon) asteroids captured by the planet at the time of its formation.

origin of the names for these small satellites