Psamathe (moon) facts for kids
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| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by |
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| Discovered | 2003 |
| Mean orbital elements | |
| Epoch June 10, 2003 | |
| Semi-major axis | 46.705 Gm |
| Eccentricity | 0.4617 |
| Inclination | 137.679° * |
| Orbital period | −9128.74 d (24.9 a) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mean diameter | 38 km ** |
| Albedo | 0.04 assumed |
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Psamathe (pronounced sah-MAH-thee), also known as Neptune X, is one of the many moons orbiting the planet Neptune. Unlike Earth's Moon, Psamathe is not round like a ball; it has an irregular, non-spherical shape.
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Psamathe: Neptune's Distant Moon
Psamathe is a small, icy moon that travels around the giant gas planet Neptune. It is one of the most distant moons in our Solar System. Its unusual shape makes it an interesting object for scientists to study.
Discovery and Name
Psamathe was discovered in 2003 by a team of astronomers. Scott S. Sheppard and David C. Jewitt led this important discovery. Before it received its official name, it was known as S/2003 N 1.
The moon was later named after Psamathe, who is a figure from ancient Greek myths. She was one of the Nereids, who were sea nymphs. The name was officially announced on February 3, 2007.
Orbit and Characteristics
Psamathe orbits Neptune at a very far distance. It is about 46,695,000 kilometers (that's over 29 million miles) away from the planet. Because it is so far, it takes a very long time to complete one trip around Neptune.
One orbit for Psamathe takes almost 25 Earth years! Imagine waiting that long for one year to pass on a moon. Psamathe is also quite small, with a diameter of about 24 kilometers (about 15 miles).
Its orbit is not a perfect circle; it is quite stretched out, which astronomers call having a high eccentricity. The moon's path is also tilted compared to Neptune's equator. This tilt is called its orbital inclination.
A Possible Origin Story
Scientists have noticed that Psamathe's orbit is very similar to another one of Neptune's moons called Neso. This similarity suggests an interesting idea. It is possible that both Psamathe and Neso were once part of a much larger moon.
This bigger moon might have broken apart a long time ago. The pieces then became the two separate moons we see today. This idea helps scientists understand how some of the irregular moons in our solar system might have formed.
