Cupid (moon)
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| Discovery | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovered by | Mark R. Showalter and Jack J. Lissauer |
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| Discovered in | August 25, 2003 | ||||||
| Orbital characteristics | |||||||
| Semi-major axis | 74,392 km | ||||||
| Eccentricity | 0.0013 | ||||||
| Orbital period | 0.618 d | ||||||
| Inclination | 0.1° (to Uranus' equator) | ||||||
| Is a satellite of | Uranus | ||||||
| Physical characteristics | |||||||
| Mean diameter | ~18 km[1] (estimate) | ||||||
| Surface area | ~1,000 km2 (estimate) | ||||||
| Volume | ~3,000 km3 (estimate) | ||||||
| Mass | ~3.8×1015 kg (estimate) | ||||||
| Mean density | ~1.3 g/cm3 (estimate) | ||||||
| Surface gravity | ~0.0031 m/s2 (estimate) | ||||||
| Escape velocity | ~0.0076 km/s (estimate) | ||||||
| Rotation period | synchronous (assumed) | ||||||
| Axial tilt | zero (assumed) | ||||||
| Albedo | 0.07 (assumed) | ||||||
| Surface temp. |
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| Atmospheric pressure | 0 kPa | ||||||
Cupid (kew'-pid, IPA: /ˈkjuːpɪd/) is an inner satellite of Uranus. It was discovered by Mark Showalter and Jack J. Lissauer in 2003 using the Hubble Space Telescope.[2] It was named after a character in William Shakespeare's play Timon of Athens.[3]
It is the smallest of inner Uranian satellites, crudely estimated to be only about 18 km in diameter. This and the dark surface made it too dim to be detected by the Voyager 2 cameras during its Uranus flyby in 1986.
The orbit of Cupid differs only 863 km from the orbit of the larger moon Belinda. Amazingly, compared to Mab and Perdita, the recently discovered Uranian satellites, it does not seem to be perturbed.[1]
Following its discovery, Cupid was given the temporary designation S/2003 U 2.[2] It is also designated Uranus XXVII.[3]
It should not be confused with the asteroid 763 Cupido.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Showalter, Mark R.; Lissauer, Jack J. (2005-12-22). "The Second Ring-Moon System of Uranus: Discovery and Dynamics". Science Express 311: 973. doi:10.1126/science.1122882.
- ^ a b Showalter, M. R.; Lissauer, J. J. (September 25 2003). IAU Circular No. 8209. Retrieved on 2006-08-05.
- ^ a b Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers. Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology (July 21 2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-05.
[edit] External links
- Hubble Uncovers Smallest Moons Yet Seen Around Uranus – Hubble Space Telescope news release (2003-09-25)
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