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Ijiraq (moon)
Encyclopedia
Ijiraq or Saturn XXII (22), is small prograde
irregular
satellite
of Saturn
. It was discovered by the team of
Brett Gladman, John J. Kavelaars
, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation . It was named in 2003 after the ijiraq
, a creature in Inuit mythology
.
Ijiraq orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.1 Gm in 451 days on an orbit very similar to Kiviuq
's. Ijiraq is believed to be in Kozai resonance: its orbit is cyclically reducing the inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa. The orbital argument of pericenter oscillates around 90° with an amplitude of 60°.
of irregular satellites, recent observations revealed that it is distinctively redder than Paaliaq
, Siarnaq
and Kiviuq. Its spectral slope
(a measure of body reflectance in function of the wavelength
) is twice as steep as that of other Inuit-group satellites (20% per 100 nm), typical for red trans-Neptunian object
s like Sedna
but unknown for irregular satellite
s. In addition, the Ijirap (Ijiraqan) spectrum lacks the weak absorption near 0.7 μm, attributed to a possible water hydration, found in the other three.
, suggested this name to help astronomical nomenclature to get out of its Greco-Romano-Renaissance
rut. He spent several months trying to find names that were both multi-cultural and Canadian
, consulting Amerindian scholars without finding a name that seemed appropriate. In March 2001, he was reading an Inuit tale to his children and had a revelation. The ijiraq
plays at hide-and-seek
, which is what these small moons of Saturn do: they are hard to find, and cold like the Canadian arctic (the team of discoverers includes Canadians, Norwegians
and Iceland
ers—Nordic
ity is their common trait). Kavelaars contacted the author of the tale, Michael Kusugak
, to get his assent, and the latter also suggested the names for Kiviuq
and 90377 Sedna
. It was named in 2003 after the ijiraq
, a creature of Inuit mythology
.
Prograde
Prograde can refer to:*Prograde or direct motion, in astronomy, a type of motion of astronomical bodies* Prograde metamorphism, in geology, describes mineral changes in rocks under increasing pressure and/or temperature conditions...
irregular
Irregular satellite
In astronomy, an irregular moon is a natural satellite following a distant, inclined, and often eccentric and retrograde orbit. They are believed to have been captured by their parent planet, unlike regular satellites, which form in situ....
satellite
Natural satellite
A natural satellite or moon is a celestial body that orbits a planet or smaller body, which is called its primary. The two terms are used synonymously for non-artificial satellites of planets, of dwarf planets, and of minor planets....
of Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
. It was discovered by the team of
Brett Gladman, John J. Kavelaars
John J. Kavelaars
John J. Kavelaars, better known as JJ Kavelaars, is a Canadian astronomer who was part of a team that discovered several moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune....
, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation . It was named in 2003 after the ijiraq
Ijiraq (mythology)
In Inuit mythology the ijiraq is a sort of shape shifter who kidnaps children and hides them away and abandons them. The inuksugaq of stone allow these children to find their way back if they can convince the ijiraq to let them go....
, a creature in Inuit mythology
Inuit mythology
Inuit mythology has many similarities to the religions of other polar regions. Inuit traditional religious practices could be very briefly summarised as a form of shamanism based on animist principles....
.
Orbit
Kiviuq (moon)
Kiviuq is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 5. It was named after Kiviuq, a hero of Inuit mythology....
's. Ijiraq is believed to be in Kozai resonance: its orbit is cyclically reducing the inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa. The orbital argument of pericenter oscillates around 90° with an amplitude of 60°.
Physical characteristics
While Ijiraq is a member of the Inuit groupSaturn's Inuit group of satellites
The Inuit group is a dynamical grouping of the prograde irregular satellites Saturn which follow similar orbits. Their semi-major axes range between 11 and 18 Gm, their inclinations between 40° and 50°, and their eccentricities between 0.15 and 0.48....
of irregular satellites, recent observations revealed that it is distinctively redder than Paaliaq
Paaliaq (moon)
Paaliaq is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman, John J. Kavelaars, Jean-Marc Petit, Hans Scholl, Matthew J. Holman, Brian G. Marsden, Philip D. Nicholson and Joseph A. Burns in early October 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 2...
, Siarnaq
Siarnaq (moon)
Siarnaq , or Saturn XXIX, is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 3....
and Kiviuq. Its spectral slope
Spectral slope
In astrophysics and planetary science, spectral slope, also called spectral gradient , is a measure of dependence of the reflectance on the wavelength....
(a measure of body reflectance in function of the wavelength
Wavelength
In physics, the wavelength of a sinusoidal wave is the spatial period of the wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.It is usually determined by considering the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase, such as crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a...
) is twice as steep as that of other Inuit-group satellites (20% per 100 nm), typical for red trans-Neptunian object
Trans-Neptunian object
A trans-Neptunian object is any minor planet in the Solar System that orbits the Sun at a greater distance on average than Neptune.The first trans-Neptunian object to be discovered was Pluto in 1930...
s like Sedna
90377 Sedna
90377 Sedna is a trans-Neptunian object discovered in 2003, which was about three times as far from the Sun as Neptune. For most of its orbit it is even further from the Sun, with its aphelion estimated at 960 astronomical units , making it one of the most distant known objects in the Solar System...
but unknown for irregular satellite
Irregular satellite
In astronomy, an irregular moon is a natural satellite following a distant, inclined, and often eccentric and retrograde orbit. They are believed to have been captured by their parent planet, unlike regular satellites, which form in situ....
s. In addition, the Ijirap (Ijiraqan) spectrum lacks the weak absorption near 0.7 μm, attributed to a possible water hydration, found in the other three.
Name
Kavelaars, an astronomer at McMaster UniversityMcMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
, suggested this name to help astronomical nomenclature to get out of its Greco-Romano-Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
rut. He spent several months trying to find names that were both multi-cultural and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, consulting Amerindian scholars without finding a name that seemed appropriate. In March 2001, he was reading an Inuit tale to his children and had a revelation. The ijiraq
Ijiraq (mythology)
In Inuit mythology the ijiraq is a sort of shape shifter who kidnaps children and hides them away and abandons them. The inuksugaq of stone allow these children to find their way back if they can convince the ijiraq to let them go....
plays at hide-and-seek
Hide and seek
Hide-and-seek or hide-and-go-seek is a variant of the game tag, in which a number of players conceal themselves in the environment, to be found by one or more seekers.-Variants:Numerous variants of the game can be found around the world...
, which is what these small moons of Saturn do: they are hard to find, and cold like the Canadian arctic (the team of discoverers includes Canadians, Norwegians
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ers—Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
ity is their common trait). Kavelaars contacted the author of the tale, Michael Kusugak
Michael Kusugak
Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak And stays in Vancouver Island in the winter. He is a Canadian children's writer and storyteller, who writes about Arctic and Inuit culture...
, to get his assent, and the latter also suggested the names for Kiviuq
Kiviuq (moon)
Kiviuq is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 5. It was named after Kiviuq, a hero of Inuit mythology....
and 90377 Sedna
90377 Sedna
90377 Sedna is a trans-Neptunian object discovered in 2003, which was about three times as far from the Sun as Neptune. For most of its orbit it is even further from the Sun, with its aphelion estimated at 960 astronomical units , making it one of the most distant known objects in the Solar System...
. It was named in 2003 after the ijiraq
Ijiraq (mythology)
In Inuit mythology the ijiraq is a sort of shape shifter who kidnaps children and hides them away and abandons them. The inuksugaq of stone allow these children to find their way back if they can convince the ijiraq to let them go....
, a creature of Inuit mythology
Inuit mythology
Inuit mythology has many similarities to the religions of other polar regions. Inuit traditional religious practices could be very briefly summarised as a form of shamanism based on animist principles....
.