Bebhionn (moon)

Bebhionn (pronounced /ˈbvɪn/ or /ˈbɛvi.ɒn/), also known as Saturn XXXVII, is a small, irregular natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on 4 May 2005 from observations taken between 12 December 2004 and 9 March 2005.

Bebhionn
Bebhionn imaged by the Cassini spacecraft in May 2017
Discovery
Discovery date2004
Designations
Designation
Saturn XXXVII
Pronunciation/ˈbvɪn/, as in the Irish, or /ˈbɛvi.ɒn/ as a spelling pronunciation
Named after
Béibhinn
S/2004 S 11
Orbital characteristics[1]
17119000 km
Eccentricity0.469
−834.8 days
Inclination35.01°
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupGallic group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
6+50%
−30%
 km
[2]
16.33±0.03 h[2]
24.1

    Bebhionn is about 6 kilometres in diameter and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 16,898 Mm in 820.130 days at an inclination of 41° to the ecliptic (18° to Saturn's equator) and with an eccentricity of 0.333. The rotation period of Bebhionn was measured at 16.33±0.03 hours by the ISS camera of the Cassini spacecraft.[2][3]

    Name

    The moon was named in April 2007 after Béibhinn (Béḃinn), an early Irish goddess of birth, who was renowned for her beauty. In Irish, Béibhinn/Béḃinn is pronounced [ˈbʲeːvʲiːn̪ʲ] (southern accents, English approximation /ˈbvn/) or [ˈbʲeːvʲɪn̪ʲ] (northern accents, English approximation /ˈbvɪn/). The spelling bh (older ) indicates that the second consonant is softened to a 'v' sound. The extra o in the unusual spelling 'Bebhionn' suggests that the final nn should be broad [n̪ˠ], but is not itself pronounced. The name is still pronounced as a compound (and thus sometimes spelled 'Bé Binn' etc.), so the unstressed vowel is not reduced to a schwa.

    References

    1. S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
    2. Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
    3. T. Denk, S. Mottola, et al. (2011): Rotation Periods of Irregular Satellites of Saturn. EPSC/DPS conference 2011, Nantes (France), abstract 1452.
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