Suttungr (moon)

Suttungr

Discovery
Discovery date	2000
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXIII
Pronunciation	/ˈsʊtʊŋər/
Named after	Suttungr
Alternative names	S/2000 S 12
Adjectives	Suttung /ˈsʊtʊŋ/, Suttungian /sʊˈtʊŋiən/
Orbital characteristics
Semi-major axis	19459000 km
Eccentricity	0.114
Orbital period (sidereal)	−1016.7 days
Inclination	175.8°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	7+50% −30% km
Synodic rotation period	7.67±0.02 h
Apparent magnitude	23.9

Suttungr /ˈsʊtʊŋər/, or Saturn XXIII, is a natural satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 12. It was named for Suttungr in Norse mythology, a Jötunn or giant who once owned the mead of poetry.

Suttungr is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 19,667 Mm in 1029.703 days. It may have formed from debris knocked off Phoebe. The Suttung orbit is retrograde, at an inclination of 174° to the ecliptic (151° to Saturn's equator) and with an eccentricity of 0.131. Its rotation period is 7.67±0.02 hours.

Its name was announced in its oblique form Suttung in IAU Circular 8177. However, the IAU Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature later decided to add the nomintive suffix -r to the base form Suttung.

References

• IAUC 7548: S/2000 S 12 December 23, 2000 (discovery)
• MPEC 2000-Y33: S/2000 S 12 December 22, 2000 (recovery/discovery and ephemeris)
• IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus August 8, 2003 (naming the moon Suttung)
• IAUC 8471: Satellites of Saturn January 21, 2005 (correcting the name)