Saturn's Norse group of satellites

The Norse group is a large group of retrograde irregular satellites of Saturn. Their semi-major axes range between 12 and 24 Gm, their inclinations between 136° and 175° and their eccentricities between 0.13 and 0.77.

Irregular satellites of Saturn.

Unlike for the Inuit and Gallic groups, the orbital parameters are widely dispersed and group is likely to be composed from a number of subgroups with more homogenous orbital and physical parameters. For example, the satellites with inclinations around 174 degrees alone are thought to comprise at least two subgroups.

Eight other moons form the Skathi subgroup. Their semi-major axes range between 15 and 20 Gm, their inclinations between 147° and 158°. Narvi forms a separate subgroup with Bestla.

The diagram illustrates the Norse group in relation to other irregular satellites of Saturn. The eccentricity of the orbits is represented by the yellow segments (extending from the pericentre to the apocentre) with the inclination represented on Y axis.

The members of the group are (in order of increasing distance from Saturn):

Phoebe
Skathi (Skathi subgroup)
S/2007 S 2
Skoll (Skathi subgroup)
Greip
Hyrrokkin (Skathi subgroup)
S/2004 S 13
S/2004 S 17
Jarnsaxa
Mundilfari
S/2006 S 1 (Skathi subgroup)
Narvi (Narvi subgroup)
Bergelmir (Skathi subgroup)
Suttungr
S/2004 S 12
S/2004 S 7
Hati
Bestla (Narvi subgroup)
Farbauti (Skathi subgroup)
Thrymr
S/2007 S 3
Aegir
S/2006 S 3 (Skathi subgroup)
Kari (Skathi subgroup)
Fenrir
Surtur
Ymir
Loge
Fornjot

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) reserves names taken from Norse mythology (mostly giants) for these moons. The exception is Phoebe (Greek mythology), the largest, which was discovered long before the others.

External links

S. Sheppard's classification of Saturn's irregular moons

Moons of Saturn

Temporary names in italics.

Ring shepherds	S/2009 S 1 Propeller moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus ?(S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3) Pandora

Co-orbitals	Epimetheus Janus

G Ring	Aegaeon

Mimas and Alkyonides	Mimas Methone Anthe Pallene

Inner large (with trojans)	Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces

Outer large	Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus

Inuit group	Kiviuq Ijiraq Paaliaq Siarnaq Tarqeq

Gallic group	Albiorix Bebhionn Erriapus Tarvos

Norse group	Phoebe Skathi S/2007 S 2 Skoll S/2004 S 13 Greip Hyrrokkin Mundilfari Jarnsaxa S/2006 S 1 S/2004 S 17 Narvi Bergelmir Aegir Suttungr S/2004 S 12 Bestla Farbauti Hati S/2004 S 7 Thrymr S/2007 S 3 S/2006 S 3 Surtur Kari Fenrir Ymir Loge Fornjot

Rings of Saturn Cassini–Huygens Themis Chiron In fiction

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