Eggther (moon) explained

Eggther
Alt Names:Saturn LIX
S/2004 S 27
S8576a
Named After:Eggþér
Discovery Ref:[1]
Discoverer:Sheppard et al.
Discovered:2019
Orbit Ref:[2]
Inclination:167.1°
Eccentricity:0.120
Period:−1033.0 days
Satellite Of:Saturn
Group:Norse group
Magnitude:24.5

Eggther (Saturn LIX), provisionally known as S/2004 S 27, 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 21, 2007.[3] It was given its permanent designation in August 2021.[4] On 24 August 2022, it was officially named after Eggþér, a jötunn from Norse mythology.[5] He is the herder of the female jötunn (probably Angrboða) who lives in Járnviðr (Ironwood) and raises monstrous wolves.[6] [7] [8] In the poem Völuspá, Eggþér is described as sitting on a mound and joyfully striking his harp while the red rooster Fjalarr begins to crow to herald the onset of Ragnarök.[7]

Eggther is about 6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 19.976 Gm in 1054.45 days, at an inclination of 168° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.122.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Discovery Circumstances from JPL
  2. https://sites.google.com/carnegiescience.edu/sheppard/moons/saturnmoons S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
  3. Web site: MPEC 2019-T134 : S/2004 S 27 . minorplanetcenter.net . 7 October 2019.
  4. Web site: M.P.C. 133821. Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. 10 August 2021. 21 August 2021.
  5. Web site: Names Approved for 10 Small Satellites of Saturn . . 24 August 2022 . usgs.gov . USGS . 30 August 2022.
  6. Salus. Peter H.. Peter H. Salus. Taylor. Paul B.. 1969. Eikinskjaldi, Fjalarr, And Eggþér: Notes on Dwarves and Giants in the Völuspá. Neophilologus. en. 53. 1. 76–81. 10.1007/BF01511692. 162276325 . 1572-8668.
  7. Book: Orchard, Andy. Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. 1997. Cassell. 978-0-304-34520-5. en. Andy Orchard. 35.
  8. Book: Lindow, John. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. 2002. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-983969-8. en. John Lindow. 102.