Mundilfari, or Saturn XXV, is a natural satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 9. Mundilfari is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18,5903 Mm in 952.95 days, at an inclination of 168.4° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.210.[1]

Mundilfari
Discovery images of Mundilfari (circled) taken by the CFHT in September 2000
Discovery
Discovered byGladman et al.
Discovery date2000
Designations
Designation
Saturn XXV
PronunciationIcelandic: [ˈmʏntɪlvarɪ][a]
Named after
Mundilfari
S/2000 S 9
Orbital characteristics[1]
18590300 km
Eccentricity0.210
−952.95 days
Inclination168.4°
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupNorse group
Physical characteristics
Dimensions11.78 × 7 × 5.86 km (modeled)[2]
7+50%
−30%
 km
[3]
6.74±0.08 hours[3]
Albedo0.06 (assumed)[4]
Spectral type
P
23.8[5][4]
14.5[4]

Mundilfari may have formed from debris knocked off Phoebe by large impacts at some point in the Solar System's history. With a spectral slope of −5.0%/100 , Mundilfari is the bluest of all the moons studied by Grav and Bauer (2007), slightly more so than Phoebe (−2.5%/100 nm) and about as blue as Erriapus (+5.1%/100 nm) is red.[6] Its rotation period is 6.74±0.08 hours, the second-fastest among all the irregular moons studied by Cassini–Huygens after Hati,[3] and it appears to be very elongated in shape.[4]

It was named in August 2003 from Norse mythology, where Mundilfari is the father of the goddess Sól (Sun) and the god Máni (Moon).

Notes

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  1. ^ The name is also found as Mundilföri ~ Mundilfœri. This would correspond to modern Icelandic Mundilfæri [ˈmʏntɪlvairɪ].

References

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  1. ^ a b "Planetary Satellite Mean Elements". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  2. ^ Melnikov, A. V.; Kopylova, Yu. G. (2022-12-01). "Simulation of the Rotational Dynamics and Light Curves of Saturn's Small Moons in the Fast Rotation Mode". Solar System Research. 56 (6). Springer Link: 403–410. doi:10.1134/S0038094622050045. ISSN 1608-3423.
  3. ^ a b c Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
  4. ^ a b c d Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, Stefano; Tosi, Frederico; Bottke, William F.; Hamilton, Douglas P. (2018). "The Irregular Satellites of Saturn". Enceladus and the Icy Moons of Saturn (PDF). Vol. 322. University of Arizona Press. pp. 409–434. Bibcode:2018eims.book..409D. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816537075-ch020. ISBN 9780816537488.
  5. ^ "Scott S. Sheppard - SaturnMoons".
  6. ^ Grav, T.; Bauer, J. (2007-03-08) [2006-11-18]. "A deeper look at the colors of the Saturnian irregular satellites". Icarus. 191 (1): 267–285. arXiv:astro-ph/0611590. Bibcode:2007Icar..191..267G. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2007.04.020.
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