Laomedeia
Laomedeia imaged by the Very Large Telescope's FORS1 imager in September 2002
Discovery[1][2]
Discovered by
Discovery dateAugust 13, 2002
Designations
Designation
Neptune XII
Pronunciation/ˌleɪəməˈdiːə/
Named after
Λαομέδεια Lāomedeia
S/2002 N 3
AdjectivesLaomedeian[3]
Orbital characteristics[4]
Epoch 2003 Jun. 10.00 TT
23,613,000 km
Eccentricity0.3969
3171.33 days
(8.68 yr)
Inclination37.874°
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
42 km (for albedo 0.04)[5]
Albedo0.04 (assumed)[5]

Laomedeia /ˌleɪəməˈdiːə/, also known as Neptune XII, is a prograde irregular satellite of Neptune. It was discovered by Matthew J. Holman, et al. on August 13, 2002.[6] Before the announcement of its name on February 3, 2007 (IAUC 8802), it was known as S/2002 N 3.

It orbits Neptune at a distance of about 23,571,000 km and is about 42 kilometers in diameter (assuming albedo of 0.04).[5] It is named after Laomedeia, one of the 50 Nereids.

References

  1. ^ JPL (2011-07-21). "Planetary Satellite Discovery Circumstances". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  2. ^ Green, Daniel W. E. (January 13, 2003). "Satellites of Neptune". IAU Circular. 8047. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  3. ^ "Laomedian" in Otley (1828) Essays on the nature, causes and effects of national antipathies
  4. ^ Jacobson, R. A. (2008). "NEP078 – JPL satellite ephemeris". Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  5. ^ a b c Sheppard, Scott S.; Jewitt, David C.; Kleyna, Jan (2006). "A Survey for "Normal" Irregular Satellites around Neptune: Limits to Completeness". The Astronomical Journal. 132 (1): 171–176. arXiv:astro-ph/0604552. Bibcode:2006AJ....132..171S. doi:10.1086/504799. S2CID 154011.
  6. ^ Holman, M. J.; Kavelaars, J. J.; Grav, T.; et al. (2004). "Discovery of five irregular moons of Neptune" (PDF). Nature. 430 (7002): 865–867. Bibcode:2004Natur.430..865H. doi:10.1038/nature02832. PMID 15318214. S2CID 4412380. Retrieved 24 October 2011.

External links

Moons of Neptune
Natural satellites of the Solar System
Neptune
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