Kiviuq (moon) facts for kids
Kiviuq is one of Saturn's many moons. It's not perfectly round like Earth's Moon, but more of an irregular shape. Scientists found Kiviuq in 2000, and it was first called S/2000 S 5.
How Kiviuq Got Its Name
In 2003, this moon was named after a famous "giant" from Inuit mythology. The Inuit are a group of Indigenous people who live in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, and Alaska.
Kiviuq (also spelled Keeveeok, Qiviuq, or Kivioq) is a legendary hero in Inuit stories. He's a bit like the Greek hero Odysseus, known for his long journeys and many adventures. Stories about Kiviuq say he lived for a very long time, or perhaps had several lives, traveling far and wide. The details of his adventures change depending on who is telling the story.
Kiviuq's Place in Space
Kiviuq is about 16 kilometers (about 10 miles) wide. It orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.1 million kilometers (about 6.9 million miles). It takes Kiviuq about 450 Earth days to complete one trip around Saturn.
This moon is part of a special group of Saturn's moons called the Inuit group. These moons are all irregular, meaning they aren't perfectly spherical.
What Kiviuq Looks Like
Kiviuq has a light-red color. When scientists study it using infrared light, its spectrum looks very similar to two other moons in the Inuit group: Siarnaq and Paaliaq. This similarity suggests that these moons might have all come from the same larger body that broke apart a long, long time ago.
