Suttungr

Suttungr

Suttungr, classified as an irregular moon of Saturn, is a constituent of the Norse group of satellites. Discovered in 2000 by astronomers led by Brett J. Gladman using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, its name derives from Norse mythology—a tribute to Suttungr, a giant associated with mead and wisdom. Suttungr's irregular orbit, marked by eccentricity and inclination, distinguishes it from Saturn's larger regular moons that follow orbits closer to the planet's equatorial plane. As part of the Norse group, alongside moons like Farbauti and Hati, Suttungr shares comparable orbital attributes, implying a conceivable shared origin, possibly linked to the fragmentation of a larger moon. Nonetheless, due to its significant distance from Earth and the limited availability of observational data, substantial details about Suttungr's physical attributes, including size, composition, and surface features, remain concealed. Suttungr, akin to other irregular moons, is believed to have been captured by Saturn's gravitational pull, suggesting an origin from the outer solar system.