Overview[]
Despina, otherwise known as Neptune V, is the third-nearest natural satellite to Neptune and the 6th largest moon of Neptune. It has a former provisional designation S/1989 N 3 before receiving a fitting name for this little moon. It is possible this moon was formed when Triton's gravity disturbs the orbits of the former moons of Neptune, which in cause to the widespread devastation to the Neptunian former moons system while later producing a disk that would later re-accreted to form Despina and the other inner moons of Neptune.[2] Due to tidal deceleration, which causes Despina's orbit to steadily get closer Neptune by being below the synchronous orbit radius, Despina would either break into pieces to form a ring around Neptune or disintegrate into Neptune's atmosphere in the remote future. Despina was named after the nymph Despoina in Greek mythology.[3]
Discovery[]
Despina was not discovered until in late July, 1989, alongside with Galatea and Larissa from the photographs captured by the Voyager 2 probe[4] Afterwards, the newly discovered moon was given a designation S/1989 N 3. On 2nd of August, 1989, the discovery was declared. Despina got its name on 16th of September 1991 after the nymph Despoina in Greek mythology.[5]
Physical characteristics[]
The shape of Despina is asymmetrical in cause of its small size with a diameter of about 116.57 km and it shows no geological modification. Despina may have originated from the remains of the former major moons of Neptune after Triton is recently captured by Neptune in a eccentric orbit.[2]
Motion[]
Despina's orbital period is almost 8 hours with an extra minute and an estimated distance between Despina and Neptune is about 27,700 km. Despina is the third-closest moon to Neptune in terms of distance and it orbits just inside the Le Verrier ring and functions like a shepherd moon to the ring. The close distance between Despina and Neptune means that Despina is likely in a synchronous rotation with Neptune with the one hemisphere facing Neptune.
Gallery[]
- ↑ http://www.princeton.edu/~willman/planetary_systems/Sol/Neptune/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/001910359290155Z?via%3Dihub
- ↑ https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/neptune-moons/despina/in-depth/
- ↑ http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/04800/04824.html
- ↑ http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/05300/05347.html