Galatea (moon)
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Stephen P. Synnott and Voyager Imaging Team |
| Discovery date | July 1989 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Neptune VI |
| Pronunciation | /ɡæləˈtiːə/ |
Named after | Γαλάτεια Galateia |
| Adjectives | Galatean |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 18 August 1989 | |
| 61952.57 km | |
| Eccentricity | 0.00022 ± 0.00008 |
| 0.42874431 ± 0.00000001 d | |
| Inclination |
|
| Satellite of | Neptune |
| Group | Ring shepherd |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | (204±10) × (184±16) × (144±8) km |
| 88±4 km | |
| Volume | ~2.8×106 km3 |
| Mass | 1.94×1018 kg (2.12±0.08)×1018 kg |
| synchronous | |
| zero | |
| Albedo | 0.08 |
| Temperature | ~51 K mean (estimate) |
| 21.9 | |
Galatea /ɡæləˈtiːə/, also known as Neptune VI, is the fourth-closest inner moon of Neptune, and fifth-largest moon of Neptune. It is named after Galatea, one of the fifty Nereids of Greek legend, with whom Cyclops Polyphemus was vainly in love.