Bestla_(moon)

Bestla (moon)

Bestla (moon)

Moon of Saturn

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.

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Description

Bestla is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 20,337,900 km in 1087 days, at an inclination of 136° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.461.[1] Early observations from 2005 suggested that Bestla had a very high eccentricity of 0.77.[5] Like many of the outer irregular moons of the giant planets, Bestla's eccentricity may vary as a result of the Kozai mechanism. Bestla rotates in a retrograde direction and makes a full rotation every 14.6238±0.0001 hours.[3] Like Kiviuq, it is likely to be a contact binary or binary object, as its light curve has strong variation in brightness and a plateau-like maximum not seen in the other irregulars.[4]

Name

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

Notes

  1. Assuming the north pole is the one pointing north of the invariable plane, in accordance with IAU standards.

References

  1. [1]
    Jacobson, R.A. (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  2. [2]
    Melnikov, A. V.; Kopylova, Yu. G. (2022-12-01). "Simulation of the Rotational Dynamics and Light Curves of Saturn's Small Moons in the Fast Rotation Mode". Solar System Research. 56 (6). Springer Link: 403–410. doi:10.1134/S0038094622050045. ISSN 1608-3423.
  3. [3]
    Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
  4. [4]
    Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, Stefano; Tosi, Frederico; Bottke, William F.; Hamilton, Douglas P. (2018). "The Irregular Satellites of Saturn" (PDF). In Schenk, P.M.; Clark, R.N.; Howett, C.J.A.; Verbiscer, A.J.; Waite, J.H. (eds.). Enceladus and the Icy Moons of Saturn. Space Science Series. Vol. 322. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. pp. 409–434. Bibcode:2018eims.book..409D. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816537075-ch020. ISBN 9780816537075.
  5. [5]
    Brian G. Marsden (2005-05-03). "MPEC 2005-J13 : Twelve New Satellites of Saturn". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
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