Beli (moon)

Beli

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	Sheppard et al.
Discovery date	2019
Designations
Named after	Beli
Alternative names	Saturn LXI S/2004 S 30 S5612a2[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Semi-major axis	20424000 km
Eccentricity	0.113
Orbital period (sidereal)	−1084.1 days
Inclination	156.3°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	4+50% −30% km
Apparent magnitude	25.4

Beli (Saturn LXI), provisionally known as S/2004 S 30, 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 named after Beli, a jötunn from Norse mythology.^[5] He is killed by Freyr with the antler of a hart (stag). According to John Lindow, the myth of Beli is partially lost. Some scholars suggest that he may be the brother of Freyr's wife Gerðr, although this is uncertain.^[6][7]

Beli is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 20.396 Gm in 1087.84 days, at 157.5° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.113.^[3]

Due to an error in the initial announcement of Beli, it was announced by the Minor Planet Center with the same orbit as Gerd.^[8] The issue was corrected later the same day.^[9]

References

1. Discovery Circumstances from JPL
2. S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
3. "MPEC 2019-T137 : S/2004 S 30". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
4. "M.P.C. 133821" (PDF). Minor Planet Center. International Astronomical Union. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
5. "Names Approved for 10 Small Satellites of Saturn". usgs.gov. USGS. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
6. Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.
7. Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.
8. "MPEC 2019-T132 : S/2004 S 25". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
9. "MPEC 2019-T140 : S/2004 S 30". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 7 October 2019.