S/2006 S 20 Explained

S/2006 S 20
Discovery Ref: 
Discoverer:Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, Brett J. Gladman
Discovered:2006
Orbit Ref: 
Eccentricity:0.206
Period:-1.553 yrs (567.27 d)
Inclination:173.1°
Satellite Of:Saturn
Group:Norse group (Phoebe)
Abs Magnitude:15.7

S/2006 S 20 is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, Brett J. Gladman, Edward Ashton, David C. Jewitt and Jan Kleyna on May 23, 2023 from observations taken between January 5, 2006 and July 9, 2021.

S/2006 S 20 is about 5 kilometers in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 13.193 Gm in 563.89 days, at an inclination of 174.9°, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.206. S/2006 S 20 belongs to the Norse group and it could possibly be a Phoebe subgroup member like S/2006 S 9. S/2006 S 20 is likely to be a fragment piece that split off of Phoebe from a collision with an asteroid or another moon.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: S/2006 S 20 – Tilmann Denk . 2024-01-19 . en-US.