Leda (satellite)

Leda is a small irregular satellite of Jupiter, orbiting Jupiter in a prograde orbit in about 239 days. It was discovered by Charles Thomas Kowal from the Mount Palomar Observatory in California on September 14, 1974 after three nights of photographic observations (September 11–13; Leda appears on all photographic plates). It is also known as Jupiter XIII. This moon was named Leda in honor of the queen of Sparta who was the mother of Castor, Pollux, Clytemnestra and Helen of Troy.

Leda belongs to the Himalia group, five moons that orbit Jupiter between 11×10⁶ and 13×10⁶ kilometers at an approximate inclination of 27.5°.

Not to be confused with the asteroid (38) Leda.