Mab (moon)
![]() | |
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Mark R. Showalter and Jack J. Lissauer |
Discovery date | August 25, 2003 |
Designations | |
Designation | Uranus XXVI |
Pronunciation | /ˈmæb/[1] |
Adjectives | Mabbian |
Orbital characteristics[2] | |
97 736 km | |
Eccentricity | 0.00347 |
0.923 d | |
Average orbital speed | 7.70 km/s (calculated) |
Inclination | 0.12217° (to Uranus' equator) |
Satellite of | Uranus |
Physical characteristics | |
6 km/12.4±0.5 km | |
~450/1930 km2 | |
Volume | ~900/7990 km3 |
Mass | ~(0.90/8.0)×1015 kg |
Mean density | 0.5–1.2 g/cm3[3] 1 g/cm3 (assumed) |
~0.002/0.003 m/s2 | |
~0.004/0.009 km/s | |
synchronous | |
0 | |
Albedo | ~0.46/0.1 (assumed)[4] |
Temperature | ~63 K |
26[5] | |
Mab, or Uranus XXVI,[6] is an inner satellite of Uranus. It was discovered by Mark R. Showalter and Jack J. Lissauer in 2003 using the Hubble Space Telescope.[7] It was named after Queen Mab, a fairy queen from English folklore who is mentioned in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet.[6]
Because the moon is small and dark, it was not seen in the heavily scrutinized images taken by Voyager 2 during its Uranus flyby in 1986. However, it is brighter than another moon, Perdita, which was discovered from Voyager's photos in 1997. This led scientists to re-examine the old photos again, and the satellite was finally found in the images.[8] Following its discovery, Mab was given the temporary designation S/2003 U 1.[7]
The size of Mab is not precisely known. If it is as dark as Puck, it is about 24.8±1.0 km in diameter.[10] On the other hand, if it has a relatively bright surface like the neighbouring moon Miranda, it would be smaller than Cupid and comparable to the smallest outer satellites.[8] Infrared observation published in 2023 suggest that Mab is probably a 12-km body with a Miranda-like surface, rich in water ice; though not leaving out the possibility of it being a 24-km body with a Puck-like surface.[4]
Mab is heavily perturbed. The actual source for perturbation is still unclear, but is presumed to be one or more of the nearby orbiting moons.[8]
Mab orbits at the same distance from Uranus as the
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Mab". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
- ^ Ćuk, Matija; French, Robert S.; Showalter, Mark R.; Tiscareno, Matthew S.; El Moutamid, Maryame (2022). "Cupid is not Doomed Yet: On the Stability of the Inner Moons of Uranus". The Astronomical Journal. 164 (2): 38. arXiv:2205.14272. Bibcode:2022AJ....164...38C. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ac745d.
- ^ French, Robert S.; Showalter, Mark R. (August 2012). "Cupid is Doomed: An Analysis of the Stability of the Inner Uranian Satellites". Icarus. 220 (2): 911–921. arXiv:1408.2543. Bibcode:2012Icar..220..911F. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.06.031.
- ^ a b Molter, Edward M.; De Pater, Imke; Moeckel, Chris (2023). "Keck near-infrared detections of Mab and Perdita". Icarus. 405: 115697. arXiv:2307.13773. Bibcode:2023Icar..40515697M. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115697. S2CID 259885759.
- ^
Sheppard, Scott S. "Uranus' Known Satellites". Carnegie Institution (Department of Terrestrial Magnetism). Archived from the original on 2013-10-15. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b "Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology. July 21, 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
- ^ a b Showalter, Mark R.; Lissauer, Jack J. (September 25, 2003). "S/2003 U 1 and S/2003 U 2". IAU Circular. 8209: 1. Bibcode:2003IAUC.8209....1S. ISSN 0081-0304. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
- ^ a b c d e Showalter, Mark R.; Lissauer, Jack J. (2006-02-17). "The Second Ring-Moon System of Uranus: Discovery and Dynamics". Science. 311 (5763): 973–977. Bibcode:2006Sci...311..973S. doi:10.1126/science.1122882. PMID 16373533. S2CID 13240973.
- ^ Ćuk, Matija; French, Robert S.; Showalter, Mark R.; Tiscareno, Matthew S.; Moutamid, Maryame El (2022-07-16). "Cupid is not Doomed Yet: On the Stability of the Inner Moons of Uranus". The Astronomical Journal. 164 (2): 38. arXiv:2205.14272. Bibcode:2022AJ....164...38C. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ac745d. ISSN 1538-3881.
- ^ Showalter & Lissauer (2006),[8] as cited in Ćuk et al. (2022).[9]
- ^ Layton, Laura (December 28, 2005). "Uranus' second ring-moon system". Astronomy.com. Astronomy Magazine. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved 2014-11-22.
External links[edit]
- Hubble Uncovers Smallest Moons Yet Seen Around Uranus – Hubble Space Telescope news release (25 September 2003)
- NASA's Hubble Discovers New Rings and Moons Around Uranus – Hubble Space Telescope news release (22 December 2005)
- Hubble detects two large outer rings, two new moons orbiting Uranus (Courtesy of Astronomy Magazine 2005)