Ymir (moon)
Discovery image of Ymir taken by the La Silla Observatory in August 2000 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Brett J. Gladman |
| Discovery site | Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur |
| Discovery date | 2000 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XIX |
| Pronunciation | /ˈiːmɪər/, /ˈɪmɪər/ |
Named after | Ymir |
| S/2000 S 1 | |
| Adjectives | Ymirian /ɪˈmɪəriən/ |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 2000 January 1.5 | |
| 22957100 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.337 |
| −3.6 yr (−1315.16 d) | |
| 344.3° | |
| Inclination | 173.1° |
| 61.5° | |
| 90.8° | |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Group | Norse group |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 24 km × 22 km × 16 km |
| 19+50% −30% km | |
| Circumference | 65 km (equatorial) |
| −11.92220±0.00002 h | |
North pole right ascension | 280°±20° |
North pole declination | 70°±10° |
| Albedo | 0.06 |
Spectral type | D/P |
| 21.7 | |
| 12.3 | |
Ymir /ˈiːmɪər/, or Saturn XIX, is the second-largest retrograde irregular moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman, et al. in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 1. It was named in August 2003 after Ymir, who in Norse mythology is the ancestor of all the Jotuns or frost giants.
It takes 3.6 Earth years to complete an orbit around Saturn. Of the moons that take more than 3 Earth years to orbit Saturn, Ymir is the largest, at about 19 kilometres (12 miles) in diameter; Ymir is also the second largest member of the Norse group, after Phoebe.
Spectral measurements from Cassini–Huygens show that Ymir is reddish in color, unlike Phoebe's gray color, suggesting a separate origin for this moon. It shows a similar light curve as Siarnaq and has a triangular shape, rotating in a retrograde direction about once every 11.9 hours.