Sao (moon) facts for kids
Sao is a small, oddly shaped moon that orbits the planet Neptune. It was discovered by a team of scientists led by Matthew J. Holman on August 14, 2019.
Sao travels around Neptune at a distance of about 22.4 million kilometers. It is quite small, measuring about 44 kilometers across. Scientists figure out its size by assuming how much light it reflects, which is called its albedo. For Sao, they assume an albedo of 0.04, meaning it reflects very little light.
Sao has a very unusual orbit around Neptune. Its path is quite tilted compared to Neptune's equator. This tilt is called its inclination. Sao's orbit is also very stretched out, not a perfect circle. This stretched shape is known as an eccentric orbit. You can see how unique its orbit is when you compare it to other small moons of Neptune in diagrams.
What's in a Name?
Sao is also known as Neptune XI. Like many of Neptune's moons that are far away, Sao is named after one of the Nereids. In ancient Greek stories, the Nereids were sea nymphs, daughters of the sea god Nereus. Sao was a Nereid linked to sailing. Her name means "The rescuer" or "Safety." Before it got its official name on February 3, 2007, Sao was called S/2002 N 2. This was a temporary name given when it was first found.
See also
Learn more about Sao in Spanish: Sao (satélite) para niños
