Kiviuq (moon)

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Kiviuq - Saturn XXIV
Discovery [1]
Discovered by B. J. Gladman et al.
Discovered in 2000
Mean Orbital elements [2]
Epoch 2000 Feb. 26.00
Semi-major axis 11.111 Gm
Eccentricity 0.3288
Inclination 45.71° *
Orbital period 449.22 d
(1.23 yr)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter 16 km[3] **
Rotation period ?
Albedo 0.04 [3] assumed
Color light red B-V=0.87
R-V=0.66[4]/0.48[5]
Spectral type D [5]
*to the ecliptic **based on the albedo
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Kiviuq (pronounced /ˈkiːvioʊk/ KEE-vee-oek, or /ˈkɪviʊk/ KIV-ee-ook) is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 5.[6][7]

It was named in 2003 after a "giant" of Inuit mythology.[8] Kiviuq (also spelled Keeveeok, Qiviuq or Kivioq) is a legendary and heroic Inuk, a sort of Inuit Odysseus. He has lived very long (or has had several lives), has wandered and journeyed, living all sorts of adventures whose details depend on the story-teller's local tradition.

Kiviuq is about 16 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.1 million kilometers in 450 days. It is a member of the Inuit group of irregular satellites.

Kiviuq displays light-red colours and the infrared spectrum very similar to Siarnaq and Paaliaq, further supporting the thesis of a possible common origin of the Inuit group in the break-up of a larger body[9][5].

Kiviuq is believed to be in Kozai resonance i.e. cyclically reducing the orbital inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Discovery Circumstances (JPL)
  2. ^ Mean orbital parameters from JPL
  3. ^ a b Scott Sheppard pages
  4. ^ Grav, T.; Holman, M. J.; Gladman, B. J.; Aksnes, K.; Photometric survey of the irregular satellites, Icarus, 166 (2003), pp. 33-45
  5. ^ a b c Grav, T.; and Bauer, J.; A deeper look at the colors of Saturnian irregular satellites
  6. ^ IAUC 7521: S/2000 S 5, S/2000 S 6 2000 November 18 (discovery)
  7. ^ MPEC 2000-Y14: S/2000 S 3, S/2000 S 4, S/2000 S 5, S/2000 S 6, S/2000 S 10 2000 December 19 (discovery and ephemeris)
  8. ^ IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus 2003 August 8 (naming the moon)
  9. ^ Gladman, B. J.; Nicholson, P. D.; Burns, J. A.; Kavelaars, J. J.; Marsden, B. G.; Holman, M. J.; Grav, T.; Hergenrother, C. W.; Petit, J.-M.; Jacobson, R. A.; and Gray, W. J.; Discovery of 12 satellites of Saturn exhibiting orbital clustering, Nature, 412 (2001 July 12), pp. 163–166
  10. ^ Ćuk, M.; and Burns, J. A.; On the Secular Behavior of Irregular Satellites, The Astronomical Journal, Vol. 128 (2004), pp. 2518-2541

[edit] External links