Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard David C. Jewitt Jan T. Kleyna Brian G. Marsden |
Discovery date | 2006 |
Designations | |
Designation | Saturn LI |
Named after | Greipa |
S/2006 S 4 | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
18206000 km | |
Eccentricity | 0.326 |
−921.2 days | |
Inclination | 179.8° |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Group | Norse group |
Physical characteristics[2][3] | |
5+50% −30% km | |
12.75±0.35? h | |
Albedo | 0.06 (assumed) |
24.4 | |
15.4 | |
Greip /ˈɡreɪp/ or Saturn LI is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on 26 June 2006, from observations taken between 5 January and 1 May 2006. Greip is about 5 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18,066 Mm in 906.556 days, at an inclination of 172.7° to the ecliptic (159.2° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.3735, and is presumably at high risk of eventually colliding with Phoebe.[3] It is unknown whether Greip is more similar to Suttungr or Hyrrokkin in color.[3] Its rotation period is most likely 12.75±0.35 hours with two minima in the light curve,[2] but a longer period of 19 hours cannot be ruled out due to the short observation time by Cassini–Huygens.[3]
It is named after Greip, a giantess in Norse mythology.