Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Scott S. Sheppard David C. Jewitt Jan T. Kleyna Brian G. Marsden |
Discovery date | 2004 |
Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXXVII |
Pronunciation | /ˈbeɪvɪn, ˈbɛviɒn/ BAY-vin, BEV-ee-on |
Named after | Béibhinn |
S/2004 S 11 | |
Orbital characteristics[1] | |
17119000 km | |
Eccentricity | 0.469 |
−834.8 days | |
Inclination | 35.01° |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Group | Gallic group |
Physical characteristics[2][3] | |
6+50% −30% km | |
16.33±0.03 h | |
Albedo | 0.06 (assumed) |
Spectral type | B–V = 0.61 ± 0.10, V–R = 0.51 ± 0.13[4] |
24.1 | |
15.0 | |
Bebhionn (/ˈbeɪvɪn, ˈbɛviɒn/), also known as Saturn XXXVII, is a small, irregular natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on 4 May 2005 from observations taken between 12 December 2004 and 9 March 2005.
Bebhionn is about 6 kilometres in diameter and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 16,898 Mm in 820.130 days at an inclination of 41° to the ecliptic (18° to Saturn's equator) and with an eccentricity of 0.333. The rotation period of Bebhionn was measured at 16.33±0.03 hours by the ISS camera of the Cassini spacecraft.[2][5] Bebhionn's light curve reflects an elongated shape with large variations in brightness, making it a leading candidate for a contact binary or binary moon.[3]