Tarvos (moon)

Tarvos /ˈtɑːrvɒs/, or Saturn XXI, is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by John J. Kavelaars et al. on September 23, 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 4. The name, given in August 2003, is after Tarvos, a deity depicted as a bull god carrying three cranes alongside its back from Gaulish mythology.[8]

Tarvos
Discovery[1]
Discovered byB. J. Gladman et al.[2]
Discovery dateSeptember 23, 2000
Designations
Designation
Saturn XXI
Pronunciation/ˈtɑːrvɒs/
Named after
Tarvos Trigaranus
S/2000 S 4
AdjectivesTarvian[3]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 2000 Feb. 26.00
17.983 Gm
Eccentricity0.5305[4]
926.2 d
(2.63 yr)
Inclination33.825
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupGallic group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
15+50%
−30% km[5]
10.691±0.001 h[5]
Albedo0.04[6] assumed
Spectral type
light red
B−V=0.0.77, R−V=0.57[7]

    Orbit

    Tarvos orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18 million km in 926 days and is about 15 km in diameter (assuming an albedo of 0.04). It has a high orbital eccentricity of 0.53.[4]

    It is a member of the Gallic group of irregular satellites.

    Origin

    With a similar orbit and displaying a similar light-red colour, Tarvos is thought to have its origin in the break-up of a common progenitor[7][9] or to be a fragment of Albiorix.[10]

    References
    1. Discovery Circumstances (JPL)
    2. MPEC 2000-Y14: S/2000 S 3, S/2000 S 4, S/2000 S 5, S/2000 S 6, S/2000 S 10 December 19, 2000 (discovery and ephemeris)
    3. Per the diminutive Tarvillus in Daniel Davis (2001) The Development of Celtic Linguistics, 1850-1900, p. 162
    4. Jacobson, R.A. (2007) SAT270, SAT271 (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-19.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
    5. Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
    6. Scott Sheppard. "Saturn's Known Satellites". Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
    7. Grav, Tommy; Holman, Matthew J.; Gladman, Brett J.; Aksnes, Kaare; Photometric survey of the irregular satellites, Icarus, 166 (2003), pp. 33–45
    8. IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus August 8, 2003 (naming the moon)
    9. Gladman, B. J.; Nicholson, P. D.; Burns, J. A.; Kavelaars, J. J.; Marsden, B. G.; Holman, M. J.; Grav, T.; Hergenrother, C. W.; Petit, J.-M.; Jacobson, R. A.; and Gray, W. J.; Discovery of 12 satellites of Saturn exhibiting orbital clustering, Nature, 412 (July 12, 2001), pp. 163–166
    10. Grav, Tommy; and Bauer, J.; A deeper look at the colors of Saturnian irregular satellites


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