(Astronomy)

One of Uranus' recently discovered satellites, along with Caliban (S/1997 U 1 and S/1997 U 2, respectively). They were detected in September 1997 by the telescope at Palomar Observatory by B.J. Gladman, P.D. Nicholson, J.A. Burns and J.J. Kavelaars.

Sycorax is about 120 kilometers in diameter, and orbits Uranus at a distance of 12.2 million kilometers. Its small size has not been visually confirmed, but has been calculated based on the assumption that it has an albedo of approximately 7%.

The name Sycorax comes from William Shakespeare's play The Tempest. She was a witch, and the mother of Caliban, but does not appear in the play herself.

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