 Discovery images of Ijiraq taken by theCFHT in September 2000 | |
| Discovery[1][2] | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | J. J. Kavelaars B. J. Gladman |
| Discovery date | 2000 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XXII |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɪdʒɪrɑːk/ |
Named after | Ijiraq |
| S/2000 S 6 | |
| Adjectives | Ijiraupian, Ijiraqian[a] |
| Orbital characteristics[3] | |
| Epoch 2000 January 1.5 | |
| 11.345Gm | |
| Eccentricity | 0.353 |
| 451.46 d (1.24yr) | |
| Inclination | 49.2° |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Group | Inuit group (Kiviuq) |
| Physical characteristics[4][5] | |
| 13+50% −30% km | |
| 13.03±0.14 h | |
| Albedo | 0.06assumed |
Spectral type | color:red B-V=1.05 R-V=0.58[6] |
| 22.6 | |
| 13.2 | |
Ijiraq, orSaturn XXII, is a smallprogradeirregular satellite ofSaturn. It was discovered by the team ofBrett Gladman,John J. Kavelaars,et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designationS/2000 S 6.[1][2] It was named in 2003 after theijiraq, a creature inInuit mythology.[7]
Ijiraq orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.3 million km in 451 days on an orbit very similar toKiviuq's.[3] Ijiraq is believed to be inKozai resonance: its orbit is cyclically reducing the inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa. The orbitalargument of pericenter oscillates around 90° with an amplitude of 60°.[8] Like Kiviuq andThrymr, Ijiraq's orbital elements overlap strongly withPhoebe's, and it is likely to collide with Phoebe in the future.[5]
While Ijiraq is a member of theInuit group of irregular satellites,[9] recent observations revealed that it is distinctively redder thanPaaliaq,Siarnaq and Kiviuq. Itsspectral slope (a measure of bodyreflectance in function of thewavelength) is twice as steep as that of other Inuit-group satellites (20% per 100 nm), typical for redtrans-Neptunian objects likeSedna but unknown forirregular satellites. In addition, the Ijiraupian (Ijiraqan)[a] spectrum lacks the weak absorption near 0.7 μm, attributed to a possible water hydration, found in the other three.[6]
Ijiraq was named in 2003 after theijiraq, a creature ofInuit mythology.[7]
Kavelaars, an astronomer atMcMaster University, suggested this name to help astronomical nomenclature to get out of itsGreco-Romano-Renaissance rut. He spent several months trying to find names that were both multi-cultural andCanadian, consultingAmerindian scholars without finding a name that seemed appropriate. In March 2001, he was reading an Inuit tale to his children and had a revelation. Theijiraq plays athide-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 includesCanadians,Norwegians andIcelanders—nordicity 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 and90377 Sedna.
Listed in approximate increasing distance from Saturn | |||||||||
| Inner ring moons | |||||||||
| Co-orbitals | |||||||||
| Ring-embedded moons | |||||||||
| Major moons (withtrojans) | |||||||||
| Inuit group (36) |
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| Gallic group (17) | |||||||||
| Norse group (197) |
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| See also | |||||||||
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Moons | |
| Astronomy | |
| Exploration | |
| Related | |
