Siarnaq (moon) facts for kids

Siarnaq or Saturn XXIX, is a non-spherical moon of Saturn. It was found by Brett J. Gladman, et al. in 2000 and given the designation S/2000 S 3.

It was named in August 2003 after the giant Siarnaq (also known as Sedna) in Inuit mythology, it is the biggest member of the Inuit group of non-spherical moons.

Irregular prograde groups of satellites of Saturn: Inuit (blue) and Gallic (red)

Siarnaq is thought to be about 40 kilometres in diameter and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 17,500,000 km in 895 days.

The diagram illustrates its orbit in relation to other prograde non-spherical moons of Saturn. The eccentricity of the orbits is represented by the yellow segments extending from the pericentre to the apocentre.

Siarnaq has light-red colours very similar to Paaliaq and Kiviuq, supporting that the moons formed during a break up of a bigger body.

Images for kids

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  Discovery images of Siarnaq taken by the CFHT in September 2000

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  Offset plot showing the positions and ephemerides of 13 irregular satellites relative to Saturn in 2001. Siarnaq (S/2000 S 3) is located at the upper left from the center.

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  Siarnaq observed in the infrared by the WISE spacecraft in 2010

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  Siarnaq as observed by Cassini from a distance of 22 million km (14 million mi)

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  Animation of Saturn's Inuit group of satellites from 2018–2027       Kiviuq ·       Ijiraq ·       Paaliaq ·       Siarnaq ·       Tarqeq

See also

In Spanish: Siarnaq (satélite) para niños