| Named after | Kári |
|---|---|
| Mpc name | Saturn XLV |
| Alt names | S/2006 S 2 |
| Discovered | 2006 |
| Pronounced | /ˈkɑːri/, ˈkʰauːrɪ |
| Discoverer | Scott S. Sheppard David C. Jewitt Jan T. Kleyna Brian G. Marsden |
| Semimajor | 22,118,000 km |
| Inclination | 156.3° |
| Eccentricity | 0.478 |
| Period | −1233.6 days |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Group | Norse group |
| Mean diameter | 6 ± 50 km |
| Rotation | 7.70 ± .14 h |
| Albedo | 0.06 (assumed) |
| Magnitude | 23.9 |
| Abs magnitude | 14.8 |
Kari or Saturn XLV is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on 26 June 2006 from observations taken between January and April 2006.
Kari is about 6 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 22,305,100 km in 1243.71 days, at an inclination of 148.4° to the ecliptic (151.5° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.3405. The rotation period has been determined to be 7.7 ± 0.14 hours.[1] The light curve is similar to Hyrrokkin's, having two deep and one shallow minima, and the moon is probably triangular in shape.[2]
Kari is the largest member of an eponymous collisional sub-family of retrograde moons. The family is generally tightly packed and share similar orbital elements, with an inclination range of 151.7–157°.[3]
It was named in April 2007 after Kári, son of Fornjót, the personification of wind in Norse mythology.
References
- ^ Denk, T. & Mottola, S. (2019). Cassini Observations of Saturn's Irregular Moons. 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. No. 2132. Lunar and Planetary Institute
- ^ Denk, Tilmann; Mottola, Stefano; Tosi, Frederico; Bottke, William F.; Hamilton, Douglas P. (2018). "The Irregular Satellites of Saturn". Enceladus and the Icy Moons of Saturn. Vol. 322. Space Science Series. Schenk, P.M.; Clark, R.N.; Howett, C.J.A.; Verbiscer, A.J.; Waite, J.H. (eds.). Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona Press. pp. 409–434. Bibcode:2018eims.book..409D. doi:10.2458/azu_uapress_9780816537075-ch020. ISBN 9780816537075.
- ^ Ashton, Edward; Gladman, Brett; Alexandersen, Mike; Petit, Jean-Marc (2025-12-09). "Retrograde Predominance of Small Saturnian Moons Reiterates a Recent Retrograde Collisional Disruption". The Planetary Science Journal. 6 (12): 283. arXiv:2503.07081v2. doi:10.3847/PSJ/ae1d62. ISSN 2632-3338. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
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)
- IAUC 8826: Satellites of Jupiter and Saturn April 5, 2007 (naming the moon)
- Denk, T., Mottola, S. (2013): Irregular Saturnian Moon Lightcurves from Cassini-ISS Observations: Update. Abstract 406.08, DPS conference 2013, Denver (Colorado), October 10, 2013 (synodic rotation period)