Mundilfari (moon)
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Mundilfari (pronounced /ˈmʊndɨlˈvɛəri/ MOON-dəl-VAIR-ee, Norse Mundilfäri), 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 5.6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18,360 Mm in 928.806 days, at an inclination of 170° to the ecliptic (150° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.198.
Mundilfari may have formed from debris knocked off Phoebe by large impacts at some point in the solar system's history.
It was named in August 2003 from Norse mythology, where Mundilfari is a Jotun or giant who is the father of the goddess Sol and the god Mani.
[edit] References
- IAUC 7538: S/2000 S 7, S/2000 S 8, S/2000 S 9 2000 December 7 (discovery)
- MPEC 2000-Y15: S/2000 S 1, S/2000 S 2, S/2000 S 7, S/2000 S 8, S/2000 S 9 2000 December 19 (discovery and ephemeris)
- IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus 2003 August 8 (naming the moon)
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