AI overview
Perdita is a small moon of Uranus that was discovered in 1986. It is notable as one of the lesser-known moons in our solar system, contributing to our understanding of Uranus's complex system of orbiting bodies.
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Key facts
- Discovered by
- Erich Karkoschka / Voyager 2
- Discovery date
- May 18, 1999 (in images dating back to January 18, 1986)
- Designation
- Uranus XXV
- Pronunciation
- / ˈ p ɜːr d ə t ə /
- Adjectives
- Perditean / p ɜːr d ə ˈ t iː ə n /
- Mean orbit radius
- 76,417 ± 1 km
- Eccentricity
- 0.0012 ± 0.0005
- Orbital period sidereal
- 0.638021 ± 0.000013 d
- Inclination
- 0.0 ± 0.3° (to Uranus's equator)
- Satellite of
- Uranus
- Mean radius
- 13.3 ± 0.7 km
- Surface area
- ~ 2200 km
Article
Perdita /ˈpɜːrdətə/ is a small inner satellite of Uranus. Perdita's discovery was very complicated, as the first photographs 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. However, because no further pictures could be taken to confirm its existence, it was officially demoted in 2001. 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.
Following its discovery in 1999, it was given the temporary designation of S/1986 U 10. It was named Perdita (Latin for 'lost') after the daughter of Leontes and Hermione in William Shakespeare's play The Winter's Tale. The moon is also designated Uranus XXV.