Tarvos (moon)
Moon of Saturn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tarvos, or Saturn XXI, is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by John J. Kavelaars et al. on September 23, 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 4. The name, given in August 2003, is after Tarvos, a deity depicted as a bull god carrying three cranes alongside its back from Gaulish mythology.[9]
DiscoveredbyB. J. Gladman et al.[2]
DiscoverydateSeptember 23, 2000
Designation
Saturn XXIPronunciation/ˈtɑːrvɒs/
Animation of discovery images taken by the CFHT in September 2000 | |
| Discovery[1] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | B. J. Gladman et al.[2] |
| Discovery date | September 23, 2000 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXI |
| Pronunciation | /ˈtɑːrvɒs/ |
Named after | Tarvos Trigaranus |
| S/2000 S 4 | |
| Adjectives | Tarvian[3] |
| Orbital characteristics[4] | |
| Epoch 2000 January 1.5 | |
| 18.2166 million km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.522 |
| 917.98 d (2.51 yr) | |
| Inclination | 37.8° |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Group | Gallic group |
| Physical characteristics | |
| 15+50% −30% km[5] | |
| 10.691±0.001 h[5] | |
| Albedo | <0.15[6] <0.10 (likely)[6] 0.06 (assumed)[5][7] |
Spectral type | light red B−V=0.77, R−V=0.57[8] |
| 22.1[7] | |
| 12.9[7] | |
Orbit
Tarvos orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18 million km in 918 days and is about 15 km in diameter (assuming an albedo of 0.06).[5] It has a high orbital eccentricity of 0.52.[4]
It is a member of the Gallic group of irregular satellites.
