Skrymir (moon)

Skrymir (Saturn LVI), provisionally known as S/2004 S 23, is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, and Jan Kleyna on October 7, 2019 from observations taken between December 12, 2004 and March 22, 2007.^[3] It was given its permanent designation in August 2021.^[4] On 24 August 2022, it was officially named after Útgarða-Loki (also known as Skrýmir).^[5] He is a jötunn from Norse mythology and master of illusions.^[6]

Skrymir

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	Sheppard et al.
Discovery date	2019
Designations
Named after	Skrýmir/Skrymir
Alternative names	Saturn LVI S/2004 S 23 S8630a[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Semi-major axis	21427000 km
Eccentricity	0.399
Orbital period (sidereal)	−1164.3 days
Inclination	177.7°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	4+50% −30% km
Apparent magnitude	24.8

Skrymir is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 21.163 Gm in 1149.82 days, at an inclination of 177° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.373.^[3]

References

1. Discovery Circumstances from JPL
2. S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
3. "MPEC 2019-T129 : S/2004 S 23". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
4. "M.P.C. 133821" (PDF). Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
5. "Names Approved for 10 Small Satellites of Saturn". usgs.gov. USGS. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
6. "Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers". usgs.gov. IAU WGPSN. Retrieved 30 August 2022.