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Timeline of natural satellites

Timeline of natural satellites in the Solar system by decade of discovery

For comparison, discovery dates of Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are also included, as well as the first six asteroids. After the first six, new asteroids were discovered every year; however, the first four at least were for several decades considered full-fledged planets.

Historically the naming of natural satellites did not always match the times of their discovery. See Naming of natural satellites.

The tables are sorted by publication/announcement date. When two dates are given, the first is publication, the second is the discovery observation's date.

1 Sources
2 See also

Contents
1 Prehistoric
2 1610s
3 1650s
4 1670s
5 1680s
6 1780s
7 1800s
8 1840s
9 1850s
10 1870s
11 1890s
12 1900s
13 1910s
14 1930s
15 1940s
16 1950s
17 1960s
18 1970s
19 1980s
20 1990s
21 2000
22 2001
23 2002
24 2003
25 2004

Prehistoric

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
  The Moon
  Mercury
  Venus
  Mars
  Jupiter
  Saturn


1610s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
January 7, 1610 Callisto Jupiter IV Galileo
January 7, 1610 Io Jupiter I Galileo
January 7, 1610 Europa Jupiter II Galileo
January 11, 1610 Ganymede Jupiter III Galileo


1650s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
March 25, 1655 Titan Saturn VI Huygens


1670s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
October 25, 1671 Iapetus Saturn VIII Cassini
December 23, 1672 Rhea Saturn V Cassini


1680s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
March 21, 1684 Tethys Saturn III Cassini
March 21, 1684 Dione Saturn IV Cassini


1780s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
March 13, 1781 Uranus
January 11, 1787 Titania Uranus III Herschel
January 11, 1787 Oberon Uranus IV Herschel
August 28, 1789 Enceladus Saturn II Herschel
September 17, 1789 Mimas Saturn I Herschel [1]


1800s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
January 1, 1801 1 Ceres
March 28, 1802 2 Pallas
September 1, 1804 3 Juno
March 29, 1807 4 Vesta


1840s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
December 8, 1845 5 Astraea Hencke [2]
September 23, 1846 Neptune
October 10, 1846 Triton Neptune I Lassell [3] [4]
July 1, 1847 6 Hebe Hencke [5]
September 16, 1848 Hyperion Saturn VII Bond, Bond, Lassell [6] [7]


1850s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
October 24, 1851 Ariel Uranus I Lassell [8]
October 24, 1851 Umbriel Uranus II Lassell [9]


1870s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
August 12, 1877 Deimos Mars II Hall [10] [11] [12]
August 18, 1877 Phobos Mars I Hall [13] [14] [15]


1890s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
September 9, 1892 Amalthea Jupiter V Barnard [16]
August 16, 1898 Phoebe Saturn IX Pickering [17] [18]


1900s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
December 3, 1904 Himalia Jupiter VI Perrine [19] [20] [21] [22]
January 2, 1905 Elara Jupiter VII Perrine [23] [24] [25]
April 28, 1905 "Themis" "Saturn X" (spurious) Pickering [26] [27]
January 27, 1908 Pasiphaë Jupiter VIII Melotte [28]


1910s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
July 21, 1914 Sinope Jupiter IX Nicholson [29]


1930s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
February 18, 1930 Pluto
July 6, 1938 Lysithea Jupiter X Nicholson [30]
July 30, 1938 Carme Jupiter XI Nicholson [31]


1940s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
February 16, 1948 Miranda Uranus V Kuiper [32]
May 1, 1949 Nereid Neptune II Kuiper [33] [34]


1950s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
September 28, 1951 Ananke Jupiter XII Nicholson [35]


1960s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
December 15 1966 Janus* S/1966 S 2 Saturn X Dollfus [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41]
(Dollfus may have seen either Janus or Epimetheus)
December 18 1966 Epimetheus* Saturn XI Walker [42]


1970s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
September 20/11, 1974 Leda Jupiter XIII Kowal [43] [44] [45] [46]
October 3/September 30, 1975 Themisto* S/1975 J 1 Jupiter XVIII Kowal [47] [48] [49]
(Discovered and then lost)
April 13, 1978 Charon S/1978 P 1   Christy [50] [51]
November 23/July 8, 1979 Adrastea S/1979 J 1 Jupiter XV Jewitt, Danielson / Voyager 2 [52] [53] [54] [55]

[56] [57]


1980s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
January 19, 1980 Janus* S/1980 S 1 Saturn X [58] [59] [60] [61] [62]
(Confirmed by Voyager 1)
January 26, 1980 Epimetheus* S/1980 S 3 Saturn XI [63] [64] [65] [66] [67]
(Confirmed by Voyager 1)
March 1, 1980 Helene S/1980 S 6 Saturn XII Laques , Lecacheux [68] [69] [70] [71]
March 13, 1980 Calypso S/1980 S 25 Saturn XIV Pascu , Seidelmann , Baum , Currie [72] [73]
April 8, 1980 Telesto S/1980 S 13 Saturn XIII Smith , Reitsema, Larson , Fountain , Voyager 1 [74] [75]
April 28, 1980/March 5, 1979 Thebe S/1979 J 2 Jupiter XIV Synnott, Voyager 1 [76] [77]
August 26, 1980/March 4, 1979 Metis S/1979 J 3 Jupiter XVI Synnott, Voyager 1 [78]
October, 1980 Atlas S/1980 S 28 Saturn XV Terrile, Voyager 1 [79]
October, 1980 Prometheus S/1980 S 27 Saturn XVI Collins , Voyager 1 [80]
October, 1980 Pandora S/1980 S 26 Saturn XVII Collins , Voyager 1 [81]
December 30, 1985 Puck S/1985 U 1 Uranus XV Synnott, Voyager 2 [82]
January 3, 1986 Juliet S/1986 U 2 Uranus XI Synnott, Voyager 2 [83] [84]
January 3, 1986 Portia S/1986 U 1 Uranus XII Synnott, Voyager 2 [85] [86]
January 9, 1986 Cressida S/1986 U 3 Uranus IX Synnott, Voyager 2 [87] [88]
January 13, 1986 Desdemona S/1986 U 6 Uranus X Synnott, Voyager 2 [89] [90]
January 13, 1986 Rosalind S/1986 U 4 Uranus XIII Synnott, Voyager 2 [91] [92]
January 13, 1986 Belinda S/1986 U 5 Uranus XIV Synnott, Voyager 2 [93] [94]
January 20, 1986 Cordelia S/1986 U 7 Uranus VI Terrile, Voyager 2 [95]
January 20, 1986 Ophelia S/1986 U 8 Uranus VII Terrile, Voyager 2 [96]
January 23, 1986 Bianca S/1986 U 9 Uranus VIII Smith , Voyager 2 [97]
July 7 / < June 16, 1989 Proteus S/1989 N 1 Neptune VIII Synnott, Voyager 2 [98] [99]
August 2 / < July 28, 1989 Larissa S/1989 N 2 Neptune VII Reitsema, Hubbard , Lebofsky , Tholen, Voyager 2 [100]
August 2 / < July 28, 1989 Despina S/1989 N 3 Neptune V Synnott, Voyager 2 [101]
August 2 / < July 28, 1989 Galatea S/1989 N 4 Neptune VI Synnott, Voyager 2 [102]
September 29 / < September 18, 1989 Thalassa S/1989 N 5 Neptune IV Terrile, Voyager 2 [103]
September 29 / < September 18, 1989 Naiad S/1989 N 6 Neptune III Terrile, Voyager 2 [104]


1990s

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
July 16, 1990 Pan* S/1981 S 13 Saturn XVIII Showalter , Voyager 2 [105]

(From Voyager 2 images taken starting August 22, 1981)
April 14, 1995 / August 23, 1981   S/1981 S 14 (see S/2004 S 1 below)   Gordon , Murray and Beurle [106]

[107]
September 6, 1997 Caliban S/1997 U 1 Uranus XVI Gladman, Nicholson , Burns , Kavelaars [108]
September 6, 1997 Sycorax S/1997 U 2 Uranus XVII Gladman, Nicholson , Burns , Kavelaars [109]
May 18, 1999   S/1986 U10*   Karkoschka , Voyager 2 [110]

(From Voyager 2 images taken starting 18 January 1986)
July 18, 1999 Setebos S/1999 U 1 Uranus XIX Kavelaars, Gladman, Holman , Petit , Scholl [111]
July 18, 1999 Stephano S/1999 U 2 Uranus XX Gladman, Holman , Kavelaars, Petit , Scholl [112]
July 18, 1999 Prospero S/1999 U 3 Uranus XVIII Holman , Kavelaars, Gladman, Petit , Scholl [113]


2000

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
July 18-20, 2000/October 6, 1999 Callirrhoe S/1999 J 1 Jupiter XVII Scotti, Spahr, McMillan, Larsen , Montani , Gleason , Gehrels [114] [115]
August 7, 2000 Ymir S/2000 S 1 Saturn XIX Gladman [116] [117]
August 7, 2000 Paaliaq S/2000 S 2 Saturn XX Gladman [118] [119]
August 7, 2000 Kiviuq S/2000 S 5 Saturn XXIV Gladman [120] [121]
September 23, 2000 Siarnaq S/2000 S 3 Saturn XXIX Gladman, Kavelaars [122] [123]
September 23, 2000 Tarvos S/2000 S 4 Saturn XXI Kavelaars, Gladman [124] [125]
September 23, 2000 Ijiraq S/2000 S 6 Saturn XXII Kavelaars, Gladman [126] [127]
September 23, 2000 Thrymr S/2000 S 7 Saturn XXX Gladman, Kavelaars [128] [129]
September 23, 2000 Skathi S/2000 S 8 Saturn XXVII Kavelaars, Gladman [130] [131]
September 23, 2000 Mundilfari S/2000 S 9 Saturn XXV Gladman, Kavelaars [132] [133]
September 23, 2000 Erriapo S/2000 S 10 Saturn XXVIII Kavelaars, Gladman [134] [135]
September 23, 2000 Suttungr S/2000 S 12 Saturn XXIII Gladman, Kavelaars [136] [137]
November 9, 2000 Albiorix S/2000 S 11 Saturn XXVI Holman , Spahr [138] [139]
November 25/21, 2000 Themisto* S/2000 J 1 Jupiter XVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier (Rediscovered) [140] [141]


2001

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
January 5, 2001/November 23, 2000 Kalyke S/2000 J 2 Jupiter XXIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [142] [143]
January 5, 2001/November 23, 2000 Iocaste S/2000 J 3 Jupiter XXIV Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [144] [145]
January 5, 2001/November 23, 2000 Erinome S/2000 J 4 Jupiter XXV Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [146] [147]
January 5, 2001/November 23, 2000 Harpalyke S/2000 J 5 Jupiter XXII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [148] [149]
January 5, 2001/November 23, 2000 Isonoe S/2000 J 6 Jupiter XXVI Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [150] [151]
January 5, 2001/November 23, 2000 Praxidike S/2000 J 7 Jupiter XXVII Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [152] [153]
January 5, 2001/November 25, 2000 Megaclite S/2000 J 8 Jupiter XIX Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [154] [155]
January 5, 2001/November 25, 2000 Taygete S/2000 J 9 Jupiter XX Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [156] [157]
January 5, 2001/November 26, 2000 Chaldene S/2000 J 10 Jupiter XXI Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [158] [159]
January 5, 2001/December 5, 2000   S/2000 J 11   Sheppard, Jewitt, Fernández , Magnier , Dahm , Evans [160] [161]
August 13, 2001 Trinculo S/2001 U 1 Uranus XXI Holman , Kavelaars, Milisavljevic [162] [163]


2002

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
May 16, 2002/December 9, 2001 Hermippe S/2001 J 3 Jupiter XXX Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [164] [165]
May 16, 2002/December 9, 2001 Eurydome S/2001 J 4 Jupiter XXXII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [166] [167]
May 16, 2002/December 9, 2001 Sponde S/2001 J 5 Jupiter XXXVI Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [168] [169]
May 16, 2002/December 9, 2001 Kale S/2001 J 8 Jupiter XXXVII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [170] [171]
May 16, 2002/December 10, 2001 Autonoe S/2001 J 1 Jupiter XXVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [172] [173]
May 16, 2002/December 11, 2001 Thyone S/2001 J 2 Jupiter XXIX Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [174] [175]
May 16, 2002/December 11, 2001 Pasithee S/2001 J 6 Jupiter XXXVIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [176] [177]
May 16, 2002/December 11, 2001 Euanthe S/2001 J 7 Jupiter XXXIII Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [178] [179]
May 16, 2002/December 11, 2001 Orthosie S/2001 J 9 Jupiter XXXV Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [180] [181]
May 16, 2002/December 11, 2001 Euporie S/2001 J 10 Jupiter XXXIV Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [182] [183]
May 16, 2002/December 11, 2001 Aitne S/2001 J 11 Jupiter XXXI Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [184] [185]
August 13, 2002   S/2002 N 3   Holman , Kavelaars, Grav , Fraser , Milisavljevic [186] [187]
August 14, 2002   S/2002 N 1   Holman , Kavelaars, Grav , Fraser , Milisavljevic [188] [189]
August 14, 2002   S/2002 N 2   Holman , Kavelaars, Grav , Fraser , Milisavljevic [190] [191]
December 18/October 31, 2002   S/2002 J 1   Sheppard, Meech , Hsieh , Tholen, Tonry [192] [193]


2003

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
August 25, 2003/January 18, 1986   S/1986 U 10*   Karkoschka (Recovered by the Hubble Space Telescope) [194]
October 2003/August 13, 2001   S/2001 U 3*   Holman , Kavelaars, Milisavljevic , Gladman [195]
February 5, 2003   S/2003 S 1   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [196]
March 4/February 5, 2003   S/2003 J 1   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [197] [198]
March 4/February 5, 2003   S/2003 J 2   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [199] [200]
March 4/February 5, 2003   S/2003 J 3   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [201] [202]
March 4/February 5, 2003   S/2003 J 4   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [203] [204]
March 4/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 5   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [205] [206]
March 4/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 6   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [207] [208]
March 4/February 8, 2003   S/2003 J 7   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández , Hsieh [209] [210]
March 6/February 8, 2003   S/2003 J 8   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [211] [212]
March 7/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 9   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [213] [214]
March 7/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 10   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [215] [216]
March 7/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 11   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [217] [218]
March 7/February 8, 2003   S/2003 J 12   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [219] [220]
April 11/February 9, 2003   S/2003 J 13   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [221]
April 11/February 8, 2003   S/2003 J 14   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [222]
April 11/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 15   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [223]
April 11/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 16   Gladman, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Kavelaars, Petit , Allen [224]
April 11/February 8, 2003   S/2003 J 17   Gladman, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Kavelaars, Petit , Allen [225]
April 11/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 18   Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit , Allen , Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna [226]
April 30/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 19   Gladman, Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Kavelaars, Petit , Allen [227] [228]
April 30/February 9, 2003   S/2003 J 20   Sheppard, Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit , Allen , Jewitt, Kleyna [229] [230]
May 30/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 21   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit , Allen [231] [232]
August 25, 2003   S/2003 U 1   Showalter , Lissauer [233]
August 25, 2003   S/2003 U 2   Showalter , Lissauer [234]
August 29, 2003/August 13, 2001   S/2001 U 2*   2001: Holman , Kavelaars, Milisavljevic ;
2003: Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt [235] [236]
August 29, 2003/August 14, 2002   S/2002 N 4*   Holman , Kavelaars, Grav , Fraser , Milisavljevic [237] [238]
August 29, 2003   S/2003 U 3   Sheppard, Jewitt [239] [240]
September 3/August 29, 2003   S/2003 N 1   Jewitt, Kleyna , Sheppard, Holman , Kavelaars [241] [242]


2004

Date Name Designation Number Designation References
January 25, 2004/February 9, 2003   S/2003 J 22*   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Gladman, Kavelaars, Petit , Allen [243] [244]
(From images taken in 2003)
February 4, 2004/February 6, 2003   S/2003 J 23*   Sheppard, Jewitt, Kleyna , Fernández [245] [246]
August 16 / June 1, 2004   S/2004 S 1 =S/1981 S 14 ?   Porco , Charnoz , Brahic , Dones / Cassini-Huygens [247]

[248]
August 16 / June 1, 2004   S/2004 S 2   Porco , Charnoz , Brahic , Dones / Cassini-Huygens [249]

[250]


*Note: Marked moons had complicated discoveries. Several moons took several years to be confirmed, and in several cases were actually lost and rediscovered. Others were found in Voyager photographs years after they were taken.

Sources

See also


Last updated: 10-24-2004 05:10:45