Ijiraq (moon)
Animated discovery image of Ijiraq
|
|
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by |
J. J. Kavelaars B. J. Gladman |
| Discovered | in 2000 |
| Mean Orbital elements | |
| Epoch 2000 Feb. 26.00 | |
| Semi-major axis | 11.124 Gm |
| Eccentricity | 0.3163 |
| Inclination | 46.444° * |
| Orbital period | 451.4 d (1.24 yr) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mean diameter | 12 km** |
| Rotation period | ? |
| Albedo | 0.04assumed |
| Color |
red B-V=1.05 R-V=0.58 |
| Spectral type | (redder than D) |
|
*to the ecliptic **based on the albedo |
|
*to the ecliptic
Ijiraq (/ˈiːjᵻrɑːk/ EE-yə-rahk or /ˈɪdʒᵻrɑːk/ IJ-ə-rahk), or Saturn XXII (22), is small prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by the team of Brett Gladman, John J. Kavelaars, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 6. It was named in 2003 after the ijiraq, a creature in Inuit mythology.
Ijiraq orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.1 Gm in 451 days on an orbit very similar to Kiviuq's. Ijiraq is believed to be in Kozai resonance: its orbit is cyclically reducing the inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa. The orbital argument of pericenter oscillates around 90° with an amplitude of 60°.
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