Caliban (moon) Sunday, June 21, 2009

Caliban
Discovery
Discovered by Brett J. Gladman,
Philip D. Nicholson,
Joseph A. Burns,
and John J. Kavelaars
Discovered in September 6, 1997
Orbital characteristics
Semimajor axis 7,231,000 km
Eccentricity 0.1587[1]
Orbital period 579.73 d
Inclination 120.28° (to Uranus' equator)
140.878° (to the local Laplace plane)
139.89° (to the ecliptic)
Is a satellite of Uranus
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter ~72 km (estimate)[2][3]
Surface area ~16,000 km2 (estimate)
Volume ~200,000 km3 (estimate)
Mass ~2.5 × 1017 kg (estimate)
Mean density ~1.3 g/cm3 (assumed)
Surface gravity ~0.02 m/s2 (estimate)
Escape velocity ~0.031 km/s (estimate)
Rotation period 2.7h [4]
Axial tilt unknown
Albedo 0.04 (assumed)[2][3]
Surface temp.
min mean max

~64 K (estimate)
Atmosphere no

Caliban (pronounced /ˈkælɨbæn/ KAL-i-ban, or /ˈkælɨbən/ KAL-ə-bən) is the second largest retrograde irregular moon of Uranus.

Caliban was discovered on 1997-09-06 by Brett J. Gladman, Philip D. Nicholson, Joseph A. Burns, and John J. Kavelaars using the 200-inch Hale telescope together with Sycorax and given the temporary designation S/1997 U 1.[5]

Designated Uranus XVI it was named after the monster character in William Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

The orbital parameters suggest that it may belong, together with Stephano to the same dynamic cluster, suggesting common origin.[6]

Its diameter is estimated at 72 km (assuming albedo of 0.04)[2][3] making it the second largest irregular satellite of Uranus, half the size of Sycorax, the biggest irregular satellite of Uranus.

Somewhat inconsistent reports put Caliban in light-red category (B-V=0.83 V-R=0.52,[7] B-V=1.23 V-R=0.47[4]) redder than Sycorax but still less red than most Kuiper Belt Objects.

The light curve suggests the rotation period of 2.7h.[4]

See also

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