Paaliaq is thought to be about 29 kilometres in diameter, and orbits Saturn at an average distance of 15.0 million km in 687 days. It is a member of the Inuit group of irregular satellites. It also has a proximity with 9 other moons reaching up to ten miles from each.[clarification needed]
It is light red in color, and in the infrared the Paaliapian (Paaliaqan)[a] spectrum is very similar to the Inuit-group satellites Kiviuq and Siarnaq, supporting the thesis of a possible common origin of the Inuit group in the break-up of a larger body.[5][10] Its light curve has an unusual pattern of four minima, suggesting that it has a very peculiar shape.[4]
Notes
^ abThe genitive form of Paaliaq is Paaliap. Thus the adjectival form could be absolutivePaaliaqian or genitive Paaliapian, parallel to nominative Venusian and genitive Venerian for Venus. See Inuktitut morphology
^Petten, Cheryl. "Naming Saturn's moons". Ammsa.com. Aboriginal Multi-Media Society. The fourth name, Paaliaq, is a character Kusugak created in his latest book, Marble Island-The Curse of the Shaman, which Kusugak is currently trying to get published. The characters Kiviuq and Siarnaq are also found in the book.