Romulus (moon)
Adaptive Optics observations of (87) Sylvia, showing its two satellites, Remus and Romulus. | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | |
| Discovery date | 18 February 2001 |
| Designations | |
| Sylvia I | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈrɒmjʊləs/ |
Named after | Rōmulus |
| |
| Main belt (Cybele) | |
| Adjectives | Romulian, -ean (both /rɒˈmjuːliən/) |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 1 September 2004 (JD 1795812.5) | |
| 1351.35±0.1 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.0069±0.0037 |
| 3.6496+0.025 −0.024 d | |
Average orbital speed | 27.0 m/s |
| 167°±23° | |
| Inclination | 1.7°±1.0° (with respect to Sylvia equator) |
| 93.17°±1.85° | |
| 175°±23° | |
| Satellite of | 87 Sylvia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | (38.0±3.2) × (14.0±0.8) km (best-fit) |
| 23.1±0.7 km | |
| Mass | 9.319+20.7 −8.3×1014 kg |
Equatorial escape velocity | ~ 4.8 m/s (estimate) |
| 10.7 | |
Romulus, formal designation 87 Sylvia I, is the outer and larger moon of the main-belt asteroid 87 Sylvia. It follows an almost-circular and close-to-equatorial orbit around the asteroid. In this respect it is similar to the other Sylvian moon Remus.