Bestla (moon)

Bestla
	Bestla imaged by the Cassini spacecraft in September 2015
Discovery
Discovered by	Scott S. Sheppard; David C. Jewitt; Jan T. Kleyna; Brian G. Marsden
Discovery date	2004
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXXIX
Pronunciation	/ˈbɛstlə/
Alternative names	S/2004 S 18
Orbital characteristics
Semi-major axis	20129000 km
Eccentricity	0.521
Orbital period	−1083.6 days
Inclination	145.2°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	7+50%; −30% km
Rotation period	14.6238±0.0001 h
Apparent magnitude	23.8

Bestla /ˈbɛstlə/ or Saturn XXXIX is a retrograde irregular moon of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on 4 May 2005, from observations taken between 13 December 2004 and 5 March 2005.

Description[]

Bestla is about 7 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 20,192,000 km in 1088 days, at an inclination of 147° to the ecliptic (151° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.5145.^[3] Early observations from 2005 suggested that Bestla had a very high eccentricity of 0.77.^[4] Like many of the outer irregular moons of the giant planets, Bestla's eccentricity may vary as a result of the Kozai mechanism. Besta's rotation period is 14.6238±0.0001 hours.^[2]

Name[]

This moon was named in April 2007 after Bestla, a frost giantess from Norse mythology, who is a mother of Odin.

References[]

^ S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
^ ^a ^b ^c Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.
^ Jacobson, R.A. (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
^ Brian G. Marsden (2005-05-03). "MPEC 2005-J13 : Twelve New Satellites of Saturn". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

External links[]

Saturn's Known Satellites (by Scott S. Sheppard)
Jewitt's New Satellites of Saturn page
IAUC 8523: New Satellites of Saturn^{[permanent dead link]} May 4, 2005 (discovery)
IAUC 8826: Satellites of Jupiter and Saturn^{[permanent dead link]} April 5, 2007 (naming the moon)
raw Images

[SheppardMoons-1] S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line

[LPSC2654-2] Denk, T.; Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons (PDF). 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. Lunar and Planetary Institute.

[JPL-3] Jacobson, R.A. (2007-06-28). "Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters". JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

[MPC2005-4] Brian G. Marsden (2005-05-03). "MPEC 2005-J13 : Twelve New Satellites of Saturn". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t Moons of Saturn
Listed in approximately increasing distance from Saturn as of epoch JD 2459200.5.
Ring shepherds	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus Pandora
Co-orbitals	Epimetheus Janus
G Ring	Aegaeon
Alkyonides	Methone Anthe Pallene
Inner large (with trojans)	Mimas Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces
Outer large	Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus
Inuit group (8)	S/2019 S 1 Kiviuq Ijiraq Paaliaq Saturn LX S/2004 S 31 Tarqeq Siarnaq
Norse group (46)	Phoebe Skathi S/2004 S 37 S/2007 S 2 Skoll Hyrrokkin Greip Mundilfari S/2004 S 13 (?) S/2006 S 1 S/2007 S 3 (?) Suttungr Saturn LIV Jarnsaxa Narvi Bergelmir Hati S/2004 S 17 (?) S/2004 S 12 (?) Saturn LIX Farbauti Thrymr Bestla S/2004 S 7 (?) Aegir Saturn LXI Saturn LV Saturn LVII Saturn LXII Saturn LVI S/2006 S 3 Saturn LXV Kari S/2004 S 28 Loge Saturn LXVI Fenrir Ymir Surtur Saturn LXIII S/2004 S 21 S/2004 S 39 S/2004 S 36 Fornjot Saturn LXIV Saturn LVIII
Gallic group (4)	Albiorix Bebhionn Erriapus Tarvos
Prograde outer satellites	S/2004 S 24
Rings of Saturn Cassini–Huygens Themis Chiron S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 In fiction

v t Saturn
Outline of Saturn
Geography	Dragon Storm Great White Spot Hexagon Magnetosphere Rings
Moons	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 Pandora Epimetheus Janus Aegaeon Mimas Methone Anthe Pallene Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus S/2019 S 1 Kiviuq Ijiraq Phoebe Paaliaq Skathi S/2004 S 37 Albiorix S/2007 S 2 Saturn LX Bebhionn Erriapus Skoll S/2004 S 31 Siarnaq Tarqeq S/2004 S 13 Greip Hyrrokkin Jarnsaxa Tarvos Mundilfari S/2006 S 1 S/2004 S 17 Bergelmir Narvi Saturn LIV Suttungr Hati S/2004 S 12 Saturn LIX Farbauti Thrymr Saturn LXI Aegir S/2007 S 3 Bestla S/2004 S 7 Saturn LV Saturn LVI Saturn LVII Saturn LXII S/2006 S 3 Saturn LXVI Fenrir S/2004 S 28 Surtur Kari Saturn LXV Ymir S/2004 S 21 S/2004 S 24 Loge S/2004 S 36 S/2004 S 39 Saturn LXIII Saturn LXIV Fornjot Saturn LVIII
Astronomy	Delta Octantis Saturn-crossing minor planets
Exploration	Cassini–Huygens (Huygens) timeline retirement Pioneer 11 Voyager program Voyager 1 Voyager 2
Related	Fiction The Day the Earth Smiled In Saturn's Rings (2018 documentary)

Discovery
Bestla imaged by the Cassini spacecraft in September 2015
Discovered by	Scott S. Sheppard David C. Jewitt Jan T. Kleyna Brian G. Marsden
Discovery date	2004
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXXIX
Pronunciation	/ˈbɛstlə/
Alternative names	S/2004 S 18
Orbital characteristics ^[1]
Semi-major axis	20129000 km
Eccentricity	0.521
Orbital period	−1083.6 days
Inclination	145.2°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	7+50% −30% km^[2]
Rotation period	14.6238±0.0001 h^[2]
Apparent magnitude	23.8