Animation of discovery images taken by the CFHT in September 2000 | |
Discovery[2] | |
---|---|
Discovered by | B. J. Gladman et al.[1] |
Discovery date | September 23, 2000 |
Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXI |
Pronunciation | /ˈtɑːrvɒs/ |
Named after | Tarvos Trigaranus |
S/2000 S 4 | |
Adjectives | Tarvian[3] |
Orbital characteristics[4] | |
Epoch 2000 Feb. 26.00 | |
17.983 Gm | |
Eccentricity | 0.5305[4] |
Orbital period | 926.2 d (2.63 yr) |
Inclination | 33.825 |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Group | Gallic group |
Physical characteristics | |
Mean diameter | 15+50% −30% km[5] |
Rotation period | 10.691±0.001 h[5] |
Albedo | 0.04[6] assumed |
Spectral type | light red B−V=0.0.77, R−V=0.57[7] |
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 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.
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]
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarvos (moon).
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