S/2007 S 3 facts for kids

S/2007 S 3 is a small, unnamed moon that orbits the planet Saturn. It was first seen by scientists in 2007. This moon is one of many tiny objects that circle Saturn far away.

Discovery of S/2007 S 3

Scientists found S/2007 S 3 in 2007. The discovery was announced on May 1, 2007. A team of astronomers, including Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden, made this exciting find. They used powerful telescopes to observe Saturn and its surroundings. Their observations took place between January 18 and April 19, 2007.

Facts About S/2007 S 3

S/2007 S 3 is a very small moon. It is only about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) wide. To give you an idea, that's roughly the size of a small town.

Orbit Around Saturn

This moon orbits Saturn at a great distance. Its average distance from Saturn is about 20,518,500 kilometers (about 12.7 million miles). It takes a long time for S/2007 S 3 to complete one trip around Saturn. It finishes one orbit in about 1100 Earth days. That's more than three years!

Moon's Tilt and Shape of Orbit

The moon's orbit is tilted quite a bit. Its inclination is 177.22 degrees compared to the ecliptic. The ecliptic is the plane where most planets orbit the Sun. A tilt of 177.22 degrees means it orbits Saturn almost backward compared to Saturn's other moons. The orbit of S/2007 S 3 is also not a perfect circle. It has an eccentricity of 0.130. This means its path around Saturn is slightly oval-shaped.