Thebe

Thebe was discovered using images obtained by the Voyager 1 spacecraft during its flyby of Jupiter. The moon is named after a nymph in Greek mythology who was the mother of Aegle. Learn all about Thebe here!

Physical Characteristics

Thebe is relatively small, with an estimated diameter of around 100 kilometers (62 miles). It has a non-spherical shape and is irregular in appearance. The moon's surface is thought to be heavily cratered, which indicates a history of impacts.

Orbit

Thebe orbits Jupiter at an average distance of about 222,000 kilometers (138,000 miles) from the planet's center. It is one of the closest moons to Jupiter, and its orbit lies within the planet's magnetosphere, exposing it to the strong radiation and particle flux from Jupiter's magnetic field.

Unique Features

Thebe's proximity to Jupiter means it experiences significant tidal forces, which can generate internal heating and geological activity. These forces might contribute to reshaping the moon's surface over time.

Thebe Ring

Thebe is associated with a faint ring system around Jupiter known as the Thebe Ring. It's believed that the moon's gravitational influence helps maintain the particles within this ring, and these particles might originate from impacts on Thebe's surface.

Satellites

The Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft provided some of the earliest detailed images of Thebe during their flybys of Jupiter. These images helped scientists better understand its characteristics and its interaction with its environment.