Telesto (moon)
Trojan moon of Saturn / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Telesto /təˈlɛstoʊ/ is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Smith, Reitsema, Larson and Fountain in 1980 from ground-based observations, and was provisionally designated S/1980 S 13.[4] In the following months, several other apparitions were observed: S/1980 S 24,[5] S/1980 S 33,[6] and S/1981 S 1.[7]
Discovery | |
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Discovered by |
|
Discovery date | April 8, 1980 |
Designations | |
Designation | Saturn XIII |
Pronunciation | /təˈlɛstoʊ/ |
Named after | Τελεστώ Telestō |
Tethys B S/1980 S 13 | |
Adjectives | Telestoan /tɛləˈstoʊ.ən/ or Telestoian /tɛləˈstoʊ.iən/ |
Orbital characteristics | |
295000 km[1] | |
Eccentricity | 0.001[1] |
1.887802 d[1] | |
Inclination | 1.19° (to Saturn's equator) |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Group | L4 Tethys trojan |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 33.2 × 23.4 × 19.2 km (± 0.6 × 0.6 × 0.4 km)[2]: 2 |
Mean diameter | 24.6±0.6 km[2]: 2 |
Volume | 7795 km3[lower-alpha 1] |
Mass | ≈ 4×1015 kg (assumed; unmeasured)[lower-alpha 2] |
Mean density | ≈ 0.5 g/cm3 (assumed; unmeasured)[2]: 3 |
≈ 0.0011–0.0014 m/s2[2]: 3 | |
≈ 0.006 km/s at longest axis to ≈ 0.007 km/s at poles | |
zero | |
18.7[3] | |
In 1983 it was officially named after Telesto of Greek mythology.[lower-alpha 3] It is also designated as Saturn XIII or Tethys B.
Telesto is co-orbital with Tethys, residing in Tethys' leading Lagrangian point (L4). This relationship was first identified by Seidelmann et al. in 1981.[8] Another moon, Calypso, resides in the other (trailing) Lagrangian point of Tethys, 60 degrees in the other direction from Tethys. The Saturnian system has two additional trojan moons.