Erriapus

Erriapus

Discovery images of Erriapus taken by the CFHT in September 2000
Discovery[1]
Discovered by	John J. Kavelaars et al.
Discovery date	2000
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXVIII
Pronunciation	/ɛriˈæpəs/
Named after	Erriap(p)us
Alternative names	S/2000 S 10
Orbital characteristics[2]
Epoch 2000 January 1.5
Semi-major axis	17 507 200 km
Eccentricity	0.462
Orbital period (sidereal)	871.1 d (2.38 yr)
Inclination	38.7
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Gallic group
Physical characteristics[3][4]
Dimensions	16.30 × 10 × 6.34 km (modeled)[5]
Mean diameter	10+50% −30% km
Synodic rotation period	28.15±0.25 h
Albedo	0.06 (assumed)
Spectral type	light red B−V=0.83, R−V=0.49[6]
Apparent magnitude	23.0
Absolute magnitude (H)	13.7

Erriapus /ɛriˈæpəs/, or Saturn XXVIII (28), is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett Gladman, John J. Kavelaars and colleagues in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 10.^[7][8] It was named Erriapo in August 2003^[9] after Erriapus (also rendered Erriappus), a giant in Gaulish mythology; the name was changed from dative Erriapo to nominative Erriapus per IAU conventions in late 2007.^[10][11]

Erriapus is about 10 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 17.5 Gm in 871 days.

As a member of the Gallic group of irregular satellites, which share similar orbital characteristics and a light-red colour, Erriapus is hypothesized to have its origin in the break-up of a common progenitor of the group,^[6][12] or to be a fragment of its largest member, Albiorix.^[13] It has a rotation period of 28.15±0.25 h, and is thought to rotate on its side, giving it similar seasons to those of Uranus.^[14][15] With a fairly elongated shape, it is a candidate for a contact binary or binary moon.^[4]

References

1. "Planetary Satellite Discovery Circumstances". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov.
2. "Planetary Satellite Mean Elements". ssd.jpl.nasa.gov.
3. Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
4. Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, Stefano; Tosi, Frederico; Bottke, William F.; Hamilton, Douglas P. (2018). "The Irregular Satellites of Saturn". Enceladus and the Icy Moons of Saturn (PDF). Vol. 322. University of Arizona Press. pp. 409–434. Bibcode:2018eims.book..409D. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816537075-ch020. ISBN 9780816537488.
5. Melnikov, A. V.; Kopylova, Yu. G. (2022-12-01). "Simulation of the Rotational Dynamics and Light Curves of Saturn's Small Moons in the Fast Rotation Mode". Solar System Research. 56 (6). Springer Link: 403–410. doi:10.1134/S0038094622050045. ISSN 1608-3423.
6. Grav, Tommy; Holman, Matthew J.; Gladman, Brett; Aksnes, Kaare (November 2003). "Photometric Survey of the Irregular Satellites". Icarus. 166 (1): 33–45. arXiv:astro-ph/0301016. Bibcode:2003Icar..166...33G. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2003.07.005.
7. "IAUC 7539: S/2000 S 10; OUTER Sats OF THE GIANT PLANETS". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu. December 7, 2000.
8. "MPEC 2000-Y14 : S/2000 S 3, S/2000 S 4, S/2000 S 5, S/2000 S 6, S/2000 S 10". minorplanetcenter.net. December 19, 2000.
9. "IAUC 8177: Sats OF (22); Sats OF JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS". www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu. August 8, 2003.
10. "USGS: Spelling of Saturn XXVIII". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2019-08-10.
11. IAUC 9191: SATURN XXVIII (ERRIAPUS) January 11, 2011
12. Gladman, Brett; Kavelaars, J. J.; Holman, Matthew; Nicholson, Philip D.; Burns, Joseph A.; Hergenrother, Carl W.; Petit, Jean-Marc; Marsden, Brian G.; Jacobson, Robert; Gray, William; Grav, Tommy (2001-07-12). "Discovery of 12 satellites of Saturn exhibiting orbital clustering". Nature. 412 (6843): 163–166. doi:10.1038/35084032. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 11449267.
13. Grav, T.; Bauer, J. (2007-03-08) [2006-11-18]. "A deeper look at the colors of the Saturnian irregular satellites". Icarus. 191 (1): 267–285. arXiv:astro-ph/0611590. Bibcode:2007Icar..191..267G. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2007.04.020.
14. Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, S. (2013-10-01). "Irregular Saturnian Moon Lightcurves from Cassini-ISS Observations: Update". Aas/Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Abstracts #45. 45: 406.08. Bibcode:2013DPS....4540608D.
15. Abstract Book Correlating to the Online Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society (PDF). 45th Annual Meeting Division for Planetary Sciences. Vol. 45. American Astronomical Society. October 2013. p. 170.

External links

• David Jewitt pages