Canens

Canens

Pronunciation/ˈkɑː.nɛns/
(Classical Latin) - IPA^(key)

AliasesCassini

ClassificationSubmoon

Satellite ofMélusine

Location1st moon of Mélusine

Orbital Distance~ 500 km

Moon Characteristics

Volume3.35×10⁴ km

Diameter40 km

Crust MaterialValkite

Surface Gravity0.2 G

Gravity Well8 km

Notable Minerals

Canens (/ˈkɑː.nɛns/) is the smaller of Mélusine's two moons. Like many sub-satellites of its size, it is a largely barren rock with mountainous terrain and no atmosphere to speak of. However, it does orbit slightly closer to its parent moon than other subsatellites of its class.

Nomenclature

From Roman mythology, Canens is a nymph of Roman origin, and was considered the personification of song. Because Canens' husband Picus scorned the love of the witch Circe, he was turned into a woodpecker. Canens searched for her love for six days, and when she could not find him, she threw herself into the Tiber river. She sang one final lament for her lost love, and then passed into the afterlife.