Mab (moon)

Mab "(mab'," IPAEng|ˈmæb) is an inner satellite of Uranus. It was discovered by Mark R. Showalter and Jack J. Lissauer in 2003 using the Hubble Space Telescope.cite web
last = Showalter
first = M. R.
coauthors = Lissauer, J. J.
title = IAU Circular No. 8209
date = September 25 2003
url = http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iauc/08200/08209.html
accessdate = 2006-08-05 ] It was named after Queen Mab, a fairy queen from English folklore who is mentioned in William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet".cite web
title = Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers
work = Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
publisher = USGS Astrogeology
date = July 21 2006
url = http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append7.html
accessdate = 2006-08-05 ]

Because the moon is small and dark, it was not seen in the heavily scrutinized images taken by "Voyager 2" during its Uranus flyby in 1986. However, it is brighter than another moon, Perdita, which was discovered from Voyager's photos in 1997. This led scientists to re-examine the old photos again, and the satellite was finally found in the images.

The size of Mab is poorly constrained. If it is as dark as Puck, it is about 24 km in diameter. On the other hand, if it is brightly coloured like the neighbouring moon Miranda, it would be even smaller than Cupid and comparable to the smallest outer satellites.

Mab is heavily perturbed. The actual source for perturbation is still unclear, but is presumed to be one or more of the nearby orbiting moons.

Mab orbits at the same distance from Uranus as R/2003 U 1, a newly discovered dusty ring. The moon is nearly the optimal size for dust production, since larger moons can recollect the escaping dust and smaller moons have too small surface areas for supplying the ring via ring particle or meteoroid collisions.cite web
date=December 28, 2005
title=Uranus' second ring-moon system
publisher=Astronomy Magazine
author=Laura Layton
url=http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=3821
accessdate=2008-05-10] No rings associated to Perdita and Cupid have been found, probably because Belinda limits the lifetimes of dust they generate.

Following its discovery, Mab was given the temporary designation S/2003 U 1. The moon is also designated Uranus XXVI.

References

External links

* [http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2003/29/ Hubble Uncovers Smallest Moons Yet Seen Around Uranus] – Hubble Space Telescope news release (2003-09-25)
* [http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/newsdesk/archive/releases/2005/33/ Hubble Discovers Giant Rings and New Moons Encircling Uranus] – Hubble Space Telescope news release (2005-12-22)
* [http://www.astronomy.com/asy/objects/images/layton_uranus2_700.jpgMab + Ring diagram] (Courtesy of Astronomy Magazine 2005)

bs:S/2003 U 1
da:S/2003 U 1