Alternative names S/2000 S 4, Saturn XXI Eccentricity 0.5305 Inclination 33.825 Orbits Saturn | Semi-major axis 17.983 Orbital period 926.2 d
(2.63 yr) Discovered 23 September 2000 | |
Discovered by B. J. Gladman, J. J. Kavelaars,
R. L. Allen, T. Rigg,
C. W. Hergenrother, S. M. Larson,
A. Doressoundiram and J. Romon Discoverers Carl W. Hergenrother, T. Rigg, John J. Kavelaars, Brett J. Gladman Similar John J Kavelaars discoveries, Saturn moons, Other celestial objects | ||
Tarvos (/ˈtɑːrvoʊs/ TAR-vəs), or Saturn XXI, is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by John J. Kavelaars et al. on September 23, 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 4. The name, given in August 2003, is after Tarvos, a deity depicted as a bull god carrying three cranes alongside its back from Gaulish mythology.
Tarvos orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18 million km in 926 days and is about 15 km in diameter (assuming an albedo of 0.04). It has the most eccentric orbit around Saturn.
It is a member of the Gallic group of irregular satellites.
With a similar orbit and displaying a similar light-red colour, Tarvos is thought to have its origin in the break-up of a common progenitor or to be a fragment of Albiorix.