Jarnsaxa (moon)

Jarnsaxa

Discovery
Discovered by	Scott S. Sheppard David C. Jewitt Jan T. Kleyna Brian G. Marsden
Discovery date	June 26, 2006
Designations
Designation	Saturn L
Named after	Járnsaxa
Alternative names	S/2006 S 6
Orbital characteristics
Semi-major axis	18811000 km
Eccentricity	0.216
Orbital period (sidereal)	−964.7 days
Inclination	163.3°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	4 km
Albedo	0.06 (assumed)
Apparent magnitude	24.7
Absolute magnitude (H)	15.6

Jarnsaxa (/jɑːrnˈsæksə/), also known as Saturn L (provisional designation S/2006 S 6), is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on June 26, 2006, from observations taken between January 5 and April 29, 2006.

Jarnsaxa is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18,556.9 Mm in 943.784 days, at an inclination of 162.9° to the ecliptic (164.1° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.1918. It is a member of the Norse group of irregular satellites.

It is named after Járnsaxa, a giantess in Norse mythology.

External links

• Institute for Astronomy Saturn Satellite Data
• IAUC 8727: Satellites of Saturn June 30, 2006 (discovery)
• MPEC 2006-M45: Eight New Satellites of Saturn June 26, 2006 (discovery and ephemeris)
• MPEC 2007-D79: S/2006 S 6 February 28, 2007 (recovery)
• IAUC 8873: Satellites of Saturn September 20, 2007 (naming)