Fenrir (moon) facts for kids

Fenrir is a small moon that orbits the planet Saturn. It's also known by its official name, Saturn XLI, or its first temporary name, S/2004 S 16. This moon is named after a giant wolf from old Norse mythology, just like many other moons and objects in space.

What is Fenrir?

Fenrir is a tiny moon, only about 4 kilometres wide. That's roughly the size of a small town! It's one of Saturn's many moons, and it's quite far away from the planet.

How Was Fenrir Found?

Scientists discovered Fenrir in 2005. A team of astronomers, including Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden, found it. They used observations taken between December 2004 and March 2005 to confirm its existence.

Fenrir's Journey Around Saturn

Fenrir orbits Saturn at a very long distance. On average, it's about 22,611,000 kilometres away from the planet. It takes Fenrir a long time to complete one trip around Saturn – about 1269 days! That's more than three years for us on Earth. Its path around Saturn is also a bit tilted and not a perfect circle.

The Story Behind the Name

The moon was officially named Fenrir in April 2007. It gets its name from Fenrir, a famous creature in Norse mythology.

Fenrir in Norse Mythology

In Norse myths, Fenrir is a huge, powerful wolf. He is the son of the trickster god Loki. Fenrir is known for being very strong and was believed to be destined to break free from his chains during a big event called Ragnarök. He also has two famous children, Hati and Sköll, who are wolves that chase the Moon and Sun. Naming this moon after Fenrir connects our solar system to these ancient and exciting stories.

See also

In Spanish: Fenrir (satélite) para niños