What is the Gallic Group?
Q: What is the Gallic Group?
A: The Gallic Group is a dynamical grouping of prograde irregular satellites of Saturn that have similar orbits.
Q: What are the orbital elements of the Gallic Group?
A: The semi-major axes range between 16 and 19 Gm, their inclinations between 35° and 40°, and their eccentricities around 0.53.
Q: Where do the names for these moons come from?
A: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) reserves names taken from Gallic mythology for these moons.
Q: How were Tarvos and Erriapus postulated to be related to Albiorix?
A: It was postulated that Tarvos and Erriapus could be fragments of Albiorix, leaving a large, less red crater.
Q: What would be required for such an impact to occur?
A: Such an impact would require a body with the diameter in excess of 1 km and relative velocity close to 5 km/s, resulting in a large crater with the radius of 12 km.
Q: Are there any other examples in the Saturnian system's past that prove this type of collision can occur?
A: Yes, numerous very large craters observed on Phoebe prove this type of collision can occur in Saturn's past.
Q: Does Albiorix display two different colors?
A: Yes, recent observations revealed that Albiorix actually displays two different colors - one compatible with Eriapo and Tarvos, and another less red.
