Laomedeia facts for kids
Laomedeia imaged by the Very Large Telescope's FORS1 imager in September 2002
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| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by |
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| Discovery date | August 13, 2002 |
| Designations | |
| MPC designation | Neptune XII |
| Pronunciation | /ˌleɪəməˈdiːə/ |
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Named after
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Λαομέδεια Lāomedeia |
| S/2002 N 3 | |
| Adjectives | Laomedeian |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 2003 Jun. 10.00 TT | |
| 23,613,000 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.3969 |
| 3171.33 days (8.68 yr) |
|
| Inclination | 37.874° |
| Physical characteristics | |
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Mean diameter
|
42 km (for albedo 0.04) |
| Albedo | 0.04 (assumed) |
Laomedeia (pronounced lay-ə-mə-DEE-ə), also known as Neptune XII, is one of the many moons that orbit the planet Neptune. It is considered an irregular satellite, meaning it has an unusual orbit. Laomedeia travels around Neptune in the same direction that Neptune spins.
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Discovery of Laomedeia
Laomedeia was discovered on August 13, 2002. A team of astronomers led by Matthew J. Holman found it. Before it was officially named, this moon was known by the temporary name S/2002 N 3. Its official name, Laomedeia, was announced on February 3, 2007.
Naming Laomedeia
The moon Laomedeia is named after a figure from ancient Greek myths. In these stories, Laomedeia was one of the 50 Nereids. The Nereids were sea nymphs, or spirits, who were daughters of the sea god Nereus.
Orbit and Size
Laomedeia orbits Neptune at a very far distance. It is about 23,571,000 kilometers (about 14.6 million miles) away from the planet. This is a very long distance!
How Big is Laomedeia?
Scientists estimate that Laomedeia is about 42 kilometers (about 26 miles) across. To give you an idea, this is roughly the size of a small city. This size is based on how much light the moon reflects.
Laomedeia's Surface
The surface of Laomedeia is thought to be very dark. Scientists assume it reflects only about 4% of the sunlight that hits it. This is similar to the darkness of charcoal.
