Laomedeia

Laomedeia

Discovery [1][2]
Discovered by	M.Holman JJ Kavelaars T. Grav W. Fraser D. Milisavljevic
Discovered	August 13, 2002
Mean orbital elements [3]
Epoch 2003 Jun. 10.00 TT
Semi-major axis	23.613 Gm
Eccentricity	0.3969
Inclination	37.874° ^*
Orbital period	3171.33 days (8.68 yr)
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	42 km[4] ^**
Rotation period	?
Albedo	0.04 assumed[4]
Color	?
Spectral type	?
^*to the ecliptic ^**based on the albedo

Laomedeia (/ˌleɪoʊmᵻˈdiːə, -ˈdaɪə/ LAY-o-mə-DEE-ə or LAY-o-mə-DY-ə; Greek: Λαομήδεια), 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.^[5] 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).^[4] 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. Jacobson, R. A. (2008). "NEP078 – JPL satellite ephemeris". Planetary Satellite Mean Orbital Parameters. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
4. Sheppard, Scott S.; Jewitt, David C.; Kleyna, Jan (2006). "A Survey for "Normal" Irregular Satellites around Neptune: Limits to Completeness". The Astronomical Journal 132: 171–176. arXiv:astro-ph/0604552. Bibcode:2006AJ....132..171S. doi:10.1086/504799.
5. 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. Retrieved 24 October 2011.

External links

• Neptune's Known Satellites (by Scott S. Sheppard)
• David Jewitt pages
• MPC: Natural Satellites Ephemeris Service
• Mean orbital parameters (NASA)