Gunnlod (moon)

Gunnlod

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	Sheppard et al.
Discovery date	2019
Designations
Named after	Gunnlǫð
Alternative names	Saturn LXII S/2004 S 32 S64472[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Semi-major axis	21564200 km
Eccentricity	0.262
Orbital period (sidereal)	−1175.3 days
Inclination	158.5°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	4+50% −30% km
Apparent magnitude	25.0

Gunnlod (Saturn LXII), provisionally known as S/2004 S 32, is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, and Jan Kleyna on October 8, 2019 from observations taken between December 12, 2004 and January 19, 2007.^[3] It was given its permanent designation in August 2021.^[4] On 24 August 2022, it was officially named after Gunnlǫð, a jötunn from Norse mythology.^[5] She is the daughter of Suttungr and guarded the mead of poetry for him.^[6] But Odin in the form of a snake gained access to the chamber in Hnitbjorg where the mead was kept, seduced Gunnlǫð, and slept with her for three nights. In return Gunnlǫð allowed Odin three drinks of the mead, and he then immediately flew out of the cavern in the form of an eagle.^[7][8]

Gunnlod is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 21.214 Gm in 1153.96 days, at an inclination of 159° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.251.^[3]

References

1. Discovery Circumstances from JPL
2. S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
3. "MPEC 2019-T154 : S/2004 S 32". minorplanetcenter.net. Retrieved 8 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. "Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers". usgs.gov. IAU WGPSN. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
7. Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.
8. Lindow, John (2002). Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Oxford University Press. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-19-983969-8.