S/2006 S 3 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 and April 2006.

S/2006 S 3
Discovery[1]
Discovered bySheppard et al.
Discovery date2006
Orbital characteristics[2]
21408300 km
Eccentricity0.434
−1164.3 days
Inclination151.7°
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupNorse group
Physical characteristics[3]
4 km
Albedo0.06 (assumed)
24.6
15.6

S/2006 S 3 is about 6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 21,308,400 km in 1160.7 days, at an inclination of 152.8° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.4707.[4]

The moon was once considered lost in 2006 as it was not seen since its discovery.[5][6] The moon was later recovered and announced in October 2019.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Discovery Circumstances from JPL
  2. ^ S.S. Sheppard (2019), Moons of Saturn, Carnegie Science, on line
  3. ^ Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, Stefano; Tosi, Frederico; Bottke, William F.; Hamilton, Douglas P. (2018). "The Irregular Satellites of Saturn" (PDF). In Schenk, Paul M.; Clark, Roger N.; Howett, Carly J. A.; Verbiscer, Anne J.; Waite, J. Hunter (eds.). Enceladus and the Icy Moons of Saturn. Space Science Series. Vol. 322. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. pp. 409–434. Bibcode:2018eims.book..409D. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816537075-ch020. ISBN 9780816537075.
  4. ^ a b Tomatic, A. U. (8 October 2019). "MPEC 2019-T164 : S/2006 S 3". Minor Planet Electronic Circular. Minor Planet Center.
  5. ^ Beatty, Kelly (4 April 2012). "Outer-Planet Moons Found — and Lost". www.skyandtelescope.com. Sky & Telescope. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  6. ^ Jacobson, B.; Brozović, M.; Gladman, B.; Alexandersen, M.; Nicholson, P. D.; Veillet, C. (28 September 2012). "Irregular Satellites of the Outer Planets: Orbital Uncertainties and Astrometric Recoveries in 2009–2011". The Astronomical Journal. 144 (5): 132. Bibcode:2012AJ....144..132J. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/144/5/132. S2CID 123117568.
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