Tarvos , 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.IAUC 8177: Satellites of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus August 8, 2003 (naming the moon) Orbit
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 a high orbital eccentricity of 0.53.
It is a member of the Gallic group of irregular satellites.
Origin
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 progenitorGladman, B. J.; Nicholson, P. D.; Burns, J. A.; Kavelaars, J. J.; Marsden, B. G.; Holman, M. J.; Grav, T.; Hergenrother, C. W.; Petit, J.-M.; Jacobson, R. A.; and Gray, W. J.; Discovery of 12 satellites of Saturn exhibiting orbital clustering, Nature, 412 (July 12, 2001), pp.
163–166 or to be a fragment of Albiorix.Grav, Tommy; and Bauer, J.; A deeper look at the colors of Saturnian irregular satellites References
Ephemeris IAU-MPC NSES
External links
Saturn's Known Satellites (by Scott S. Sheppard)
