The Tarqiupian (Tarqeqian)[a] orbit lies at an inclination of 49.90° (to the ecliptic; 49.77° to Saturn's equator), with an eccentricity of 0.1081[1] and a semi-major axis of 17.9106 Gm. Tarqeq orbits in a prograde direction with a period of 894.86 days.
Tarqeq is the slowest-rotating irregular moon measured by Cassini–Huygens, with a period of about 76.13±0.01 h and a roughly ellipsoidal shape.[3] This is very close to a 1:5 resonance with Titan's orbital period, suggesting that gravitational interactions possibly lock Tarqeq in a mean-motion resonance.[4]
It has very similar inclination and semi-major axis as Siarnaq, suggesting that it is a fragment of the latter.[4]
Notes
^ abThe genitive form of Tarqeq is Tarqiup (as in Tarqiup Inua 'Master of the Moon'). Thus the adjectival form could be absolutiveTarqeqian or genitive Tarqiupian, parallel to nominative Venusian and genitive Venerian for Venus. See Inuktitut morphology