Tarqeq

Tarqeq

Tarqeq, designated as an irregular moon of Saturn, holds membership within the Inuit group of satellites. Discovered in 2000 through observations made by astronomers using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, its name draws from Inuit mythology, representing a moon god. Tarqeq's irregular orbit, characterized by its eccentric and inclined trajectory, distinguishes it from Saturn's larger regular moons, which follow paths closer to the planet's equatorial plane. As part of the Inuit group, alongside moons like Kiviuq and Siarnaq, Tarqeq shares orbital traits that suggest a potential common origin, possibly related to the fragmentation of a larger moon. However, due to its considerable distance from Earth and limited observational data, essential details about Tarqeq's physical attributes, encompassing aspects such as size, composition, and surface features, remain concealed. It is postulated that Tarqeq, akin to other irregular moons, was captured by Saturn's gravitational force, potentially originating from the outer solar system.