Paaliaq (moon)
Encyclopedia
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. It was named in August 2003 after a fictional shaman in the book The Curse of the Shaman, written by Michael Kusugak, who supplied Kavelaars with the names of giants from Inuit mythology
that were used for other Saturnian moons.
Paaliaq is thought to be about 22 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 15.2 Gm in 687 days. It is a member of the Inuit group
of irregular satellites. It also has a proximity with 9 other moons reaching up to ten miles from each.
It is light red in color, and in the infrared
the Paaliap (Paaliaqan) spectrum is very similar to the Inuit-group satellites Kiviuq
and Siarnaq
, supporting the thesis of a possible common origin of the Inuit group in the break-up of a larger body.
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 Brett J. Gladman
Brett J. Gladman
Brett J. Gladman is a Canadian astronomer and a full professor at the University of British Columbia's Department of Physics and Astronomy in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Planetary Astronomy.-Career:...
, 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....
, Jean-Marc Petit, Hans Scholl
Hans Scholl (astronomer)
Hans Scholl, born 1942, is a German astronomer working at the Côte d'Azur Observatory in Nice, France. In 1999, he was part of a team that discovered the satellites Prospero, Setebos and Stephano of the planet Uranus.-External links:*-References:...
, Matthew J. Holman
Matthew J. Holman
Matthew J. Holman is a Smithsonian Astrophysicist and lecturer at Harvard University. Holman studied at MIT, where he received his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1989 and his PhD in planetary science in 1994....
, Brian G. Marsden
Brian G. Marsden
Brian Geoffrey Marsden was a British astronomer born in Cambridge, England, and educated at The Perse School in Cambridge, New College, Oxford and Yale University. Dr...
, Philip D. Nicholson and Joseph A. Burns
Joseph A. Burns
Joseph Burns is a professor at Cornell University with a dual appointment in the Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and the Astronomy department. His primary area of research is dynamics in planetary sciences.- Professional biography :...
in early October 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 2. It was named in August 2003 after a fictional shaman in the book The Curse of the Shaman, written by Michael Kusugak, who supplied Kavelaars with the names of giants from 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....
that were used for other Saturnian moons.
Paaliaq is thought to be about 22 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 15.2 Gm in 687 days. It is a member of the Inuit group
Saturn'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. It also has a proximity with 9 other moons reaching up to ten miles from each.
It is light red in color, and in the infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
the Paaliap (Paaliaqan) spectrum is very similar to the Inuit-group satellites 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 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....
, supporting the thesis of a possible common origin of the Inuit group in the break-up of a larger body.