Geirrod (moon)

Geirrod (Saturn LXVI), provisionally known as S/2004 S 38, is a natural satellite of Saturn. Its discovery was announced by Scott S. Sheppard, David C. Jewitt, and Jan Kleyna on October 8, 2019 from observations taken between December 12, 2004 and March 22, 2007.^[3] It was given its permanent designation in August 2021.^[4] On 24 August 2022, it was officially named after Geirröðr, a jötunn from Norse mythology.^[5] He is an enemy of Thor and is killed by him.^[6]

Geirrod

Discovery[1]
Discovered by	Sheppard et al.
Discovery date	2019
Designations
Named after	Geirröðr
Alternative names	Saturn LXVI S/2004 S 38 S8568a[2]
Orbital characteristics[2]
Semi-major axis	23006200 km
Eccentricity	0.381
Orbital period (sidereal)	−1295.8 days
Inclination	155.0°
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Norse group
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	4 km
Apparent magnitude	25.1

Geirrod is about 4 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 21.908 Gm in 1,211.02 days, at an inclination of 154° to the ecliptic, in a retrograde direction and with an eccentricity of 0.437.^[3]