 Discovery images of Mundilfari (circled) taken by the
CFHT in September 2000 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Gladman et al. |
| Discovery date | 2000 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXV |
| Pronunciation | Icelandic: [ˈmʏntɪlvarɪ] [a] |
Named after | Mundilfari |
| S/2000 S 9 | |
| Orbital characteristics [1] | |
| 18590300 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.210 |
| −952.95 days | |
| Inclination | 168.4° |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Group | Norse group |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 11.78 × 7 × 5.86 km (modeled) [2] |
Mean diameter | 7+50% −30% km [3] |
| 6.74±0.08 hours [3] | |
| Albedo | 0.06 (assumed) [4] |
Spectral type | P |
| 23.8 [5] [4] | |
| 14.5 [4] | |
Mundilfari, or Saturn XXV, 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 9. Mundilfari is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18,5903 Mm in 952.95 days, at an inclination of 168.4° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.210. [1]
Mundilfari may have formed from debris knocked off Phoebe by large impacts at some point in the Solar System's history. With a spectral slope of −5.0%/100 , Mundilfari is the bluest of all the moons studied by Grav and Bauer (2007), slightly more so than Phoebe (−2.5%/100 nm) and about as blue as Erriapus (+5.1%/100 nm) is red. [6] Its rotation period is 6.74±0.08 hours, the second-fastest among all the irregular moons studied by Cassini–Huygens after Hati, [3] and it appears to be very elongated in shape. [4]
It was named in August 2003 from Norse mythology, where Mundilfari is the father of the goddess Sól (Sun) and the god Máni (Moon).
Notes
- ^ The name is also found as Mundilföri ~ Mundilfœri. This would correspond to modern Icelandic Mundilfæri [ˈmʏntɪlvairɪ].
References
- ^ a b "Planetary Satellite Mean Elements". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ Melnikov, A. V.; Kopylova, Yu. G. (2022-12-01). "Simulation of the Rotational Dynamics and Light Curves of Saturn's Small Moons in the Fast Rotation Mode". Solar System Research. 56 (6). Springer Link: 403–410. doi: 10.1134/S0038094622050045. ISSN 1608-3423.
- ^ a b c Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
- ^ a b c d Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, Stefano; Tosi, Frederico; Bottke, William F.; Hamilton, Douglas P. (2018). "The Irregular Satellites of Saturn". Enceladus and the Icy Moons of Saturn (PDF). Vol. 322. University of Arizona Press. pp. 409–434. Bibcode: 2018eims.book..409D. doi: 10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816537075-ch020. ISBN 9780816537488.
- ^ "Scott S. Sheppard - SaturnMoons".
- ^ Grav, T.; Bauer, J. (2007-03-08) [2006-11-18]. "A deeper look at the colors of the Saturnian irregular satellites". Icarus. 191 (1): 267–285. doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2007.04.020 – via arXiv.
External links
- IAUC 7538: S/2000 S 7, S/2000 S 8, S/2000 S 9 December 7, 2000 (discovery)
- MPEC 2000-Y15: S/2000 S 1, S/2000 S 2, S/2000 S 7, S/2000 S 8, S/2000 S 9 December 19, 2000 (discovery and ephemeris)
- IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus August 8, 2003 (naming the moon)
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