Fornjot (moon)

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Fornjot (pronounced /ˈfɔrnjɒt/ FOR-nyot), or Saturn XLII (provisional designation S/2004 S 8) is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on May 4, 2005, from observations taken between December 12, 2004, and March 11, 2005.

It is about 6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 24,505 Mm in 1432 d at an inclination of 168° to the ecliptic (152° to Saturn's equator) in a retrograde direction) and with an eccentricity of 0.186. It is the most distant known satellite of Saturn.

It was named in April 2007, after Fornjót, a storm giant from Norse mythology, father of Ægir, Kári, and Loge.

[edit] References

• Institute for Astronomy Saturn Satellite Data
• Jewitt's New Satellites of Saturn page
• IAUC 8523: New Satellites of Saturn May 4 2005 (discovery)
• MPEC 2005-J13: Twelve New Satellites of Saturn May 3, 2005 (discovery and ephemeris)
• IAUC 8826: Satellites of Jupiter and Saturn (subscription-only) 2007 April 5 (Naming the moon)

v • d • e Moons of Saturn Generally listed in increasing distance from Saturn. Temporary names in italics. Ring shepherds moonlets · Pan · Daphnis · Atlas · Prometheus ·  ?S/2004 S 6 · ?S/2004 S 4 · ?S/2004 S 3 · Pandora Co-orbitals Epimetheus · Janus Inner large (and Trojan) Mimas · Methone · Anthe · Pallene · Enceladus · Tethys (Telesto • Calypso) · Dione (Helene • Polydeuces) Outer large Rhea (rings) · Titan · Hyperion · Iapetus Inuit group Kiviuq · Ijiraq · Paaliaq · Siarnaq · Tarqeq Norse group Phoebe · Skathi · S/2007 S 2 · Skoll · S/2004 S 13 · Greip · Hyrrokkin · Mundilfari · Jarnsaxa · S/2006 S 1 · S/2004 S 17 · Narvi · Bergelmir · Aegir · Suttungr · S/2004 S 12 · Bestla · Farbauti · Hati · S/2004 S 7 · Thrymr · S/2007 S 3 · S/2006 S 3 · Surtur · Kari · Fenrir · Ymir · Loge · Fornjot Gallic group Albiorix · Bebhionn · Erriapus · Tarvos Rings of Saturn · Cassini-Huygens · Themis · Chiron