Geirrod (moon)

Geirrod
Discovery[1]
Discovered bySheppard et al.
Discovery date2019
Designations
Named after
Geirröðr
Saturn LXVI
S/2004 S 38
S8568a[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
23006200 km
Eccentricity0.381
−1295.8 days
Inclination155.0°
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupNorse group
Physical characteristics
4+50%
−30% km
25.1

Geirrod (Saturn LXVI), provisionally known as S/2004 S 38, is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, and Jan Kleyna on October 8, 2019 from observations taken between December 12, 2004 and March 22, 2007.[3] It was given its permanent designation in August 2021.[4] On 24 August 2022, it was officially named after Geirröðr, a jötunn from Norse mythology.[5] He is an enemy of Thor and is killed by him.[6]

Geirrod is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 21.908 Gm in 1,211.02 days, at an inclination of 154° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.437.[3]

  1. ^ Discovery Circumstances from JPL
  2. ^ a b S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
  3. ^ a b "MPEC 2019-T160 : S/2004 S 38". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  4. ^ "M.P.C. 133821" (PDF). Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Names Approved for 10 Small Satellites of Saturn". usgs.gov. USGS. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  6. ^ Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.