Jarnsaxa (moon)

Jarnsaxa
Discovery
Discovered byScott S. Sheppard
David C. Jewitt
Jan T. Kleyna
Brian G. Marsden
Discovery dateJune 26, 2006
Designations
Designation
Saturn L
Pronunciation/jɑːrnˈsæksə/
Named after
Járnsaxa
S/2006 S 6
Orbital characteristics
18811000 km
Eccentricity0.216
−964.7 days
Inclination163.3°
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupNorse group
Physical characteristics
4 km
Albedo0.06 (assumed)
24.7
15.6

Jarnsaxa, also known as Saturn L (provisional designation S/2006 S 6), is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, Jan Kleyna, and Brian G. Marsden on June 26, 2006, from observations taken between January 5 and April 29, 2006.

Jarnsaxa is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 18,556.9 Mm in 943.784 days, at an inclination of 162.9° to the ecliptic (164.1° to Saturn's equator), in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.1918. It is a member of the Norse group of irregular satellites.

It is named after Járnsaxa, a giantess in Norse mythology.