Suttungr (moon)
Suttungr /ˈsʊtʊŋər/, or Saturn XXIII, is a natural satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 12. It was named for Suttungr in Norse mythology, a Jötunn or giant who once owned the mead of poetry.
Discovery images of Suttungr (circled) taken by the CFHT in September 2000 | |
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovery date | 2000 |
Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXIII |
Pronunciation | /ˈsʊtʊŋər/[1] |
Named after | Suttungr |
S/2000 S 12 | |
Adjectives | Suttung /ˈsʊtʊŋ/, Suttungian /sʊˈtʊŋiən/ |
Orbital characteristics [2] | |
19459000 km | |
Eccentricity | 0.114 |
−1016.7 days | |
Inclination | 175.8° |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Group | Norse group |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 7+50% −30% km[3] |
7.67±0.02 h[3] | |
23.9 | |
Suttungr is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 19,667 Mm in 1029.703 days. It may have formed from debris knocked off Phoebe. The Suttung orbit is retrograde, at an inclination of 174° to the ecliptic (151° to Saturn's equator) and with an eccentricity of 0.131. Its rotation period is 7.67±0.02 hours.[3]
Its name was announced in its oblique form Suttung in IAU Circular 8177. However, the IAU Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature later decided to add the nomintive suffix -r to the base form Suttung.
References
- "Suttung". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House.
- S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
- Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
- IAUC 7548: S/2000 S 12 December 23, 2000 (discovery)
- MPEC 2000-Y33: S/2000 S 12 December 22, 2000 (recovery/discovery and ephemeris)
- IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus August 8, 2003 (naming the moon Suttung)
- IAUC 8471: Satellites of Saturn January 21, 2005 (correcting the name)