View source for S/2004 S 3

{{Short description|Unconfirmed object orbiting Saturn}}
{{Infobox planet
| name = S/2004 S 3
| alt_names = 
| adjectives = 
| pronounced = 
| image = S2004 S 3 - PIA06115.png
| image_alt =Discovery image of S/2004 S 3
| caption = Discovery image of S/2004 S 3
| discoverer = CICLOPS Team {{sfn|CICLOPS Team}}
| discovered = June 21, 2004
| orbit_ref = {{sfn|Spitale Jacobson et al.|2006}}{{sfn|IAUC 8432}}{{sfn|Martinez|Ormrod|Finn|2004}}
| epoch = 
| mean_orbit_radius = 
| semimajor = 140,100–140,600&nbsp;km
| eccentricity = < 0.002 <ref name="Eccentricity" group="lower-alpha" />
| period = 0.62 d
| inclination = close to zero
| satellite_of = [[Saturn]]
| group = [[F Ring]]
| physical_characteristics = 
| dimensions = 
| mean_radius = ~2&nbsp;km
| volume = 
| mass = 
| density = 
| surface_grav = 
| escape_velocity = 
| rotation = [[synchronous rotation|probably synchronous]]
| axial_tilt = unknown
| albedo = unknown
| single_temperature = 
| temperatures = 
| temp_name1 = 
| min_temp_1 = 
| mean_temp_1 = 
| max_temp_1 = 
}}

'''{{nowrap|S/2004 S 3}}''' is an unconfirmed [[moon of Saturn]], seen orbiting just beyond the outer strand of the [[F ring]] on June 21, 2004. It was discovered by the [http://ciclops.org/team/iss_team.php Cassini Imaging Science Team] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520122242/http://ciclops.org/team/iss_team.php |date=2011-05-20 }} in images taken by the [[Cassini–Huygens]] probe on June 21, 2004{{sfn|Martinez|Ormrod|Finn|2004}} and announced on September 9, 2004.{{sfn|IAUC 8401}}

[[File:2004 S 3 PIA06115.gif|thumb|left|Animated sequence of S/2004 S 3 discovery images by ''Cassini'' on June 21, 2004]]
Despite later attempts to recover it, it has not been reliably sighted since. Notably, an imaging sequence covering an entire orbital period at 4&nbsp;km resolution taken on November 15, 2004 failed to recover the object. The sequence should have been easily capable of detecting a moon of similar size, suggesting it to simply be a transient clump. An approximate linkage could be made of S/2004 S 3 to [[S/2004 S 4]], and matched to two other detected clumps on other dates, but considering its non-detection in November, their relation is probably coincidental.{{sfn|Spitale Jacobson et al.|2006}}

Another object, {{nowrap|[[S/2004 S 4]]}}, was sighted nearby 5 hours later, but this time just ''inside'' the F Ring. Because of the differing localisation the second object was given a fresh designation, although their interpretation as a single object on a F-ring crossing orbit is also possible.{{sfn|IAUC 8401}} Such an object might also be orbiting at a slightly different inclination to the F ring, thereby not actually passing through the ring material despite being seen both radially inward and outward of it.

If a solid object after all, {{nowrap|S/2004 S 3}} would be 3–5&nbsp;km in diameter based on brightness, and might be a [[shepherd satellite]] for the outer edge of Saturn's F [[planetary ring|ring]].

== References ==

'''Explanatory'''

{{reflist
| group = lower-alpha
| refs =

<ref name="Eccentricity">
Based on above semimajor axis range, and {{harvnb|Spitale Jacobson et al.|2006}}
</ref>

}}

'''Citations'''

{{reflist}}

'''Sources'''

* {{cite web
  | publisher = Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for OPerationS
  | title = Cassini Imaging Science Team
  | url = http://ciclops.org/team/iss_team.php
  | access-date = 2012-01-01
  | ref = {{sfnRef|CICLOPS Team}}
  | archive-date = 2011-05-20
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110520122242/http://ciclops.org/team/iss_team.php
  | url-status = dead
  }}
* {{cite journal
  | last = Green
  | first = Daniel W. E.
  | title = S/2004 S 3, S/2004 S 4, and R/2004 S 1
  | date = September 9, 2004
  | format = discovery
  | journal = IAU Circular
  | issue = 8401
  | page = 1
 | url = http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/08400/08401.html
  | access-date = 2012-01-01
  | ref = {{sfnRef|IAUC 8401}}
  | bibcode = 2004IAUC.8401....1P
 }}
* {{cite journal
  | last = Green
  | first = Daniel W. E.
  | title = Satellites and Rings of Saturn
  | date = November 8, 2004
  | journal = IAU Circular
  | issue = 8432
  | url = http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iauc/08400/08432.html
  | access-date = 2012-01-01
  | ref = {{sfnRef|IAUC 8432}}
  }} (claiming recovery of {{nowrap|S/2004 S 3}} on October 17, 2004 in conflict with the later {{harvnb|Spitale Jacobson et al.|2006}})
* {{cite web
  | last1 = Martinez
  | first1 = Carolina
  | last2 = Ormrod
  | first2 = Gill
  | last3 = Finn
  | first3 = Heidi
  | date = September 9, 2004
  | title = Cassini Discovers Ring and One, Possibly Two, Objects at Saturn
  | publisher = NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
  | work = jpl.nasa.gov
  | url = http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2004-222
  | access-date = 2012-01-01
  | archive-date = 2006-10-21
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061021000107/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2004-222
  | url-status = dead
  }}
* {{cite journal| doi = 10.1086/505206| last1 = Spitale| first1 = J. N.| last2 = Jacobson| first2 = R. A.| last3 = Porco| first3 = C. C.| last4 = Owen| first4 = W. M. Jr.| year = 2006| title = The orbits of Saturn's small satellites derived from combined historic and ''Cassini'' imaging observations| journal = The Astronomical Journal| volume = 132| issue = 2| pages = 692–710| bibcode = 2006AJ....132..692S| s2cid = 26603974| ref = {{sfnRef|Spitale Jacobson et al.|2006}}| doi-access = free}}

== External links ==
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041016045630/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-releases-04/20040909-pr-a.cfm |title=Cassini–Huygens press release about discoveries around the F ring in 2004 |date=2004-10-16}}
* {{webarchive |url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090425005027/http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/image-details.cfm?imageID=1700 |title=Cassini–Huygens Multimedia: ''The Clump/Moon Mystery'' September 5, 2005 |date=2009-04-25}} – images of the clumps and/or moons seen around the F ring by Cassini cameras

{{Moons of Saturn}}
{{Saturn}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:S 2004 S 3}}
[[Category:Moons of Saturn]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects discovered in 2004|20040621]]