Discovery[1] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | J. J. Kavelaars et al. |
Discovery date | 18 November 2000 |
Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXIV |
Pronunciation | /ˈkɪvi.ʌk/ |
Named after | Kiviuq |
S/2000 S 5 | |
Adjectives | Kiviupian, Kiviuqian[a] |
Orbital characteristics[2] | |
Epoch 2000 January 1.5 | |
11.307 Gm | |
Eccentricity | 0.182 |
449.13 d (1.23 yr) | |
Inclination | 48.9 |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Group | Inuit group (Kiviuq) |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 38.42 × 17 × 7.64 km (modeled)[3] |
17+50% −30% km[4] | |
21.82±0.22 h[5] 21.97±0.16 h[4] | |
Albedo | 0.06 assumed[4] |
Spectral type | B−V=0.87 R−V=0.66[6]/0.48[7] D-type[7] |
22.0[8] | |
12.6[8] | |
Kiviuq is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by J. J. Kavelaars et al. in 2000,[9] and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 5.[10][11] It was named after Kiviuq, a hero of Inuit mythology.[12]
Kiviuq is about 17 km in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.3 million kilometers in 449 days. It is a member of the Inuit group of irregular satellites. It is light red, and the Kiviupian (Kiviuqan)[a] infrared spectrum is very similar to the Inuit-group satellites Siarnaq and Paaliaq, supporting the thesis of a possible common origin of the Inuit group in the break-up of a larger body.[7][13]
Kiviuq is believed to be in Kozai resonance, cyclically reducing its orbital inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa.[14] Its current orbital elements overlap strongly with Phoebe's orbit, and the moons will likely eventually collide with each other.[8]
The light curve amplitude of Kiviuq is large, varying in brightness by over 2 magnitudes. The large amplitude of Kiviuq suggests that it has an elongated shape, and may be a possible contact binary.[4]
On 30 August 2010, the ISS camera of the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft took light-curve data from a distance of 9.3 million km. With these data, the rotation period was measured to 21 hours and 49 minutes.[5]
Listed in approximately increasing distance from Saturn | |||||||
Ring moonlets | |||||||
Ring shepherds | |||||||
Other inner moons | |||||||
Alkyonides | |||||||
Large moons (with trojans) | |||||||
Inuit group (12) |
| ||||||
Gallic group (7) | |||||||
Norse group (100) |
| ||||||
Outlier prograde irregular moons | |||||||
Geography | |
---|---|
Moons | |
Astronomy | |
Exploration | |
Related | |