Kiviuq

Kiviuq

Kiviuq (/ˈkɪviʌk/ KIV-ee-uk, /ˈkiːvioʊk/ KEE-vee-ohk) is a prograde irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Brett J. Gladman in 2000, and given the temporary designation S/2000 S 5. It was named after Kiviuq, a hero of Inuit mythology.

Kiviuq is about 16 kilometers in diameter and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 11.1 million kilometers in 450 days. It is a member of the Inuit group of irregular satellites. It is light red, and the Kiviupian (Kiviuqan) infrared spectrum is very similar to the Inuit-group satellites Siarnaq and Paaliaq, supporting the thesis of a possible common origin of the Inuit group in the break-up of a larger body.

Kiviuq is believed to be in Kozai resonance, cyclically reducing its orbital inclination while increasing the eccentricity and vice versa.

Exploration On 30 August 2010, the ISS camera of the Cassini–Huygens spacecraft took light-curve data from a distance of 9.3 million km. With this data, the rotation period was measured to 21 hours and 49 minutes.

Kiviuq is a small moon was physically surveyed during the Greater Solar System Survey Project (Phase IV) which included a detailed survey of all the smaller Saturn and Jupiter moons. (2115 - 2121 ) In 2117 Kiviuq was visited by the UE Leibnitz.

The moon was claimed by Alberta Space Mining in 2119. Today much of the mining operations have long been suspended. The extensive mining shaft systems are now used to grow Astro-Shrooms. There is a Shroom processing plant and a permanent population of about 22,000. Main settlement is Cassini-Ville. There is a Space Tram connection to Saturn Hub