Perdita (moon)

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Perdita
Discovery
Discovered by: Erich Karkoschka / Voyager 2
Discovery date: May 18, 1999 (in images dating back to January 18, 1986)
Orbital characteristics
Mean radius of orbit: 76,417 ± 1 km[1]
Eccentricity: 0.0012 ± 0.0005[1]
Orbital period: 0.638021 ± 0.000013 d[1]
Inclination: 0.0 ± 0.3° (to Uranus' equator)[1]
Satellite of: Uranus
Physical characteristics
Dimensions: 30 × 30 × 30 km[1]
Mean radius: 15 ± 3 km[1]
Surface area: ~2,800 km²[2]
Volume: ~14,000 km³[2]
Mass: ~0.18×1017 kg[2]
Mean density: ~1.3 g/cm³ assumed
Equatorial surface gravity: ~0.0047 m/s2[2]
Escape velocity: ~0.011 km/s[2]
Rotation period: synchronous[1]
Axial tilt: zero[1]
Albedo: 0.08 ± 0.01[3]
Temperature: ~64 K[2]

Perdita is a closer moon to Uranus. Perdita's discovery was not simple. The first pictures of Perdita were taken by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986, but it was not recognized from the photographs for more than a decade. In 1999, the moon was noticed by Erich Karkoschka and reported.[4][1] But because no further pictures could be taken to confirm its existence, it was thought to be non-existent in 2001.[5] However, in 2003, pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope managed to pick up an object where Perdita was supposed to be, finally confirming its existence.[6][7]

Following its discovery in 1999, Perdita was given the designation of S/1986 U 10.[4] It was named after the daughter of Leontes and Hermione in William Shakespeare's play The Winter's Tale. The moon is also designated Uranus XXV.[8]

Perdita belongs to Portia Group of moons, which also includes Bianca, Cressida, Desdemona, Portia, Juliet, Cupid, Rosalind and Belinda.[3] These moons have similar orbits and photometric properties.[3] Unfortunately, other than its orbit,[1][6] radius of 15 km[1] and geometric albedo of 0.08[3] almost nothing is known about it.

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