Bestla (moon)

Bestla
Discovery
Discovery date	2004
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXXIX
Pronunciation	/ˈbɛstlə/
Alternative names	S/2004 S 18
Orbital characteristics [1]
Semi-major axis	20129000 km
Eccentricity	0.521
Orbital period	−1083.6 days
Inclination	145.2°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	7+50%; −30% km[2]
Rotation period	14.6238±0.0001 h[2]
Apparent magnitude	23.8

Bestla /ˈbɛstlə/ or Saturn XXXIX is a retrograde irregular moon of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on 4 May 2005, from observations taken between 13 December 2004 and 5 March 2005.

Description

Bestla is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 20,192,000 km in 1088 days, at an inclination of 147° to the ecliptic (151° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.5145.[3] Early observations from 2005 suggested that Bestla had a very high eccentricity of 0.77.[4] Like many of the outer irregular moons of the giant planets, Bestla's eccentricity may vary as a result of the Kozai mechanism. Besta's rotation period is 14.6238±0.0001 hours.[2]

Name

This moon was named in April 2007 after Bestla, a frost giantess from Norse mythology, who is a mother of Odin.

References

S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Jacobson, R.A. (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
Brian G. Marsden (2005-05-03). "MPEC 2005-J13 : Twelve New Satellites of Saturn". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

External links

Saturn's Known Satellites (by Scott S. Sheppard)
Jewitt's New Satellites of Saturn page
IAUC 8523: New Satellites of Saturn May 4, 2005 (discovery)
IAUC 8826: Satellites of Jupiter and Saturn April 5, 2007 (naming the moon)
raw Images

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[SheppardMoons-1] S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line

[LPSC2654-2] Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.

[JPL-3] Jacobson, R.A. (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

[MPC2005-4] Brian G. Marsden (2005-05-03). "MPEC 2005-J13 : Twelve New Satellites of Saturn". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

Moons of Saturn
Listed in approximately increasing distance from Saturn.
Ring shepherds	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus Pandora
Co-orbitals	Epimetheus Janus
G Ring	Aegaeon
Alkyonides	Methone Anthe Pallene
Inner large (with trojans)	Mimas Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces
Outer large	Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus
Inuit group	Kiviuq Ijiraq Paaliaq S/2004 S 29 S/2004 S 31 Siarnaq Tarqeq
Norse group	Phoebe Skathi S/2004 S 37 S/2007 S 2 Skoll S/2004 S 13 (?) Greip Hyrrokkin Jarnsaxa Mundilfari S/2006 S 1 S/2004 S 17 (?) Bergelmir Narvi S/2004 S 20 Suttungr Hati S/2004 S 12 (?) S/2004 S 27 Farbauti Thrymr S/2004 S 30 Aegir S/2007 S 3 (?) Bestla S/2004 S 7 (?) S/2004 S 22 S/2004 S 23 S/2004 S 25 S/2004 S 32 S/2006 S 3 S/2004 S 38 Fenrir S/2004 S 28 Surtur Kari S/2004 S 35 Ymir S/2004 S 21 Loge S/2004 S 36 S/2004 S 39 S/2004 S 33 S/2004 S 34 Fornjot S/2004 S 26
Gallic group	Albiorix Bebhionn Erriapus Tarvos
Prograde outer satellites	S/2004 S 24
Rings of Saturn Cassini–Huygens Themis Chiron S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 In fiction

Saturn
Outline of Saturn
Geography	Dragon Storm Great White Spot Hexagon Magnetosphere Rings
Moons	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 Pandora Epimetheus Janus Aegaeon Mimas Methone Anthe Pallene Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus Kiviuq Ijiraq Phoebe Paaliaq Skathi S/2004 S 37 Albiorix S/2007 S 2 S/2004 S 29 Bebhionn Erriapus Skoll S/2004 S 31 Siarnaq Tarqeq S/2004 S 13 Greip Hyrrokkin Jarnsaxa Tarvos Mundilfari S/2006 S 1 S/2004 S 17 Bergelmir Narvi S/2004 S 20 Suttungr Hati S/2004 S 12 S/2004 S 27 Farbauti Thrymr S/2004 S 30 Aegir S/2007 S 3 Bestla S/2004 S 7 S/2004 S 22 S/2004 S 23 S/2004 S 25 S/2004 S 32 S/2006 S 3 S/2004 S 38 Fenrir S/2004 S 28 Surtur Kari S/2004 S 35 Ymir S/2004 S 21 S/2004 S 24 Loge S/2004 S 36 S/2004 S 39 S/2004 S 33 S/2004 S 34 Fornjot S/2004 S 26
Astronomy	Delta Octantis Saturn-crossing minor planets
Exploration	Cassini–Huygens (Huygens) timeline retirement Pioneer 11 Voyager program Voyager 1 Voyager 2
Related	Fiction Moons The Day the Earth Smiled In Saturn's Rings (2018 documentary)