ESAHome
   
Space Science
About Space ScienceESA's 'Cosmic Vision'Science & Technology in-depth
Multimedia
Science imagesScience videosAnimationsDownloadsSounds from spaceRSS feeds
Media centre
Press ReleasesPress kitsESA Television
Resources
Reference sectionGlossaryFAQs
Science missions
Services
HelpLegal disclaimerCommentsSubscribe Bookmark and Share
 
 
 
 
 printer friendly page
Elara, a moon of Jupiter
Elara, a moon of Jupiter
2 January
 
1905: On 2 January 1905, Argentinian astronomer Charles Perrine discovered Elara, then the twelfth of Jupiter's known satellites.
 
It orbits 11 737 000 kilometres from Jupiter and has a diameter of 76 kilometres.

Leda, Himalia, Lysithea and Elara may be the remnants of a single asteroid that was captured by Jupiter and broken up. In mythology, Elara was the mother by Zeus of the giant Tityus.


 
 
Lunik I stamp
Lunik I stamp
1959: On 2 January 1959, the USSR launched Lunik I in an attempt to hit the Moon. The spacecraft missed the Moon and was flung out into space by the Moon's gravity. It became the first man-made object to achieve an orbit around the Sun.
 
 
 
 
Today in space history
1 January31 December30 December29 December28 December27 December26 December
Related links
A history of European space science
 
 
 
   Copyright 2000 - 2010 © European Space Agency. All rights reserved.