The planet Saturn has 146 named moons, and another 29 which are still being studied.[1] Many of the moons are very small: 33 are less than 10 km (6 mi) in diameter and thirteen moons are less than 50 km (31 mi).[2] Many of the moons are named after Titans, Giants, or minor Greek or Roman gods. Some of Saturn
Confirmed moons
Key | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
† Major icy moons |
♠ Titan |
‡ Inuit group |
♦ Gallic group |
♣ Norse group |
Very recently, there have been 20 new discoveries of moons on Saturn that have not yet been named.
Order | Label [lower-alpha 1] |
Name | Pronunciation | Image | Diameter (km)[lower-alpha 2] | Mass (×1015 kg) [lower-alpha 3] |
Semi-major axis (km) [lower-alpha 4] | Orbital period (d)[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 5] | Inclination [lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 6] | Eccentricity | Position | Discovery year |
Discoverer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | baaniroop | S/2009 S 1 | — | ≈ 0.3 | < 0.0001 | ≈ 117000 | ≈ 0.47 | ≈ 0° | ≈ 0 | outer B Ring | 2009 | Cassini | |
(moonlets) | — | 0.04 to 0.4 (Earhart) | < 0.0001 | ≈ 130000 | ≈ 0.55 | ≈ 0° | ≈ 0 | Three 1000 km bands within A Ring | 2006 | Cassini | |||
2 | XVIII | Pan | /ˈpæn/ | 28.2±2.6 (34 × 31 × 20) | 4.95±0.75 | 133584 | +0.57505 | 0.001° | 0.000035 | in Encke Division | 1990 | M. Showalter | |
3 | XXXV | Daphnis | /ˈdæfnɪs/ | 7.6±1.6 (9 × 8 × 6) | 0.084±0.012 | 136505 | +0.59408 | ≈ 0° | ≈ 0 | in Keeler Gap | 2005 | Cassini | |
4 | XV | Atlas | /ˈætləs/ | 30.2±1.8 (41 × 35 × 19) | 6.6±0.045 | 137670 | +0.60169 | 0.003° | 0.0012 | outer A Ring shepherd | 1980 | Voyager 2 | |
5 | XVI | Prometheus | /proʊˈmiːθiəs/ | 86.2±5.4 (136 × 79 × 59) | 159.5±1.5 | 139380 | +0.61299 | 0.008° | 0.0022 | inner F Ring shepherd | 1980 | Voyager 2 | |
6 | XVII | Pandora | /pænˈdɔːrə/ | 81.4±3.0 (104 × 81 × 64) | 137.1±1.9 | 141720 | +0.62850 | 0.050° | 0.0042 | outer F Ring Shepherd | 1980 | Voyager 2 | |
7a | XI | Epimetheus | /ɛpɪˈmiːθiəs/ | 116.2±3.6 (130 × 114 × 106) | 526.6±0.6 | 151422 | +0.69433 | 0.335° | 0.0098 | co-orbital with Janus | 1977 | J. Fountain, and S. Larson | |
7b | X | Janus | /ˈdʒeɪnəs/ | 179.0±2.8 (203 × 185 × 153) | 1897.5±0.6 | 151472 | +0.69466 | 0.165° | 0.0068 | co-orbital with Epimetheus | 1966 | A. Dollfus | |
9 | LIII | Aegaeon | /iːˈdʒiːən/ | ≈ 0.5 | ≈ 0.0001 | 167500 | +0.80812 | 0.001° | 0.0002 | G Ring moonlet | 2008 | Cassini | |
10 | I | †Mimas | /ˈmaɪməs/ | 396.4±0.8 (416 × 393 × 381) | 37493±31 | 185404 | +0.942422 | 1.566° | 0.0202 | 1789 | W. Herschel | ||
11 | XXXII | Methone | /mɪˈθoʊniː/ | 3.2±1.2 | ≈ 0.02 | 194440 | +1.00957 | 0.007° | 0.0001 | Alkyonides | 2004 | Cassini | |
12 | XLIX | Anthe | /ˈænθiː/ | 1.8 | ≈ 0.0015 | 197700 | +1.05089 | 0.1° | 0.0011 | Alkyonides | 2007 | Cassini | |
13 | XXXIII | Pallene | /pəˈliːniː/ | 5.0±1.2 (6 × 6 × 4) | ≈ 0.05 | 212280 | +1.15375 | 0.181° | 0.0040 | Alkyonides | 2004 | Cassini | |
14 | II | †Enceladus | /ɛnˈsɛlədəs/ | 504.2±0.4 (513 × 503 × 497) | 108022±101 | 237950 | +1.370218 | 0.010° | 0.0047 | Generates the E ring | 1789 | W. Herschel | |
15 | III | †Tethys | /ˈtiːθɪs/ | 1062±1.2 (1077 × 1057 × 1053) | 617449±132 | 294619 | +1.887802 | 0.168° | 0.0001 | 1684 | G. Cassini | ||
15a | XIII | Telesto | /tɪˈlɛstoʊ/ | 24.8±0.8 (33 × 24 × 20) | ≈ 9.41 | 294619 | +1.887802 | 1.158° | 0.000 | leading Tethys trojan | 1980 | B. Smith, H. Reitsema, S. Larson, and J. Fountain | |
15b | XIV | Calypso | /kəˈlɪpsoʊ/ | 21.4±1.4 (30 × 23 × 14) | ≈ 6.3 | 294619 | +1.887802 | 1.473° | 0.000 | trailing Tethys trojan | 1980 | D. Pascu, P. Seidelmann, W. Baum, and D. Currie | |
18 | IV | †Dione | /daɪˈoʊniː/ | 1122.8±0.8 (1128 × 1123 × 1119) | 1095452±168 | 377396 | +2.736915 | 0.002° | 0.0022 | 1684 | G. Cassini | ||
18a | XII | Helene | /ˈhɛlɪniː/ | 35.2±0.8 (43 × 38 × 26) | ≈ 24.46 | 377396 | +2.736915 | 0.212° | 0.0022 | leading Dione trojan | 1980 | P. Laques and J. Lecacheux | |
18b | XXXIV | Polydeuces | /pɒliˈdjuːsiːz/ | 2.6±0.8 (3 × 2 × 1) | ≈ 0.03 | 377396 | +2.736915 | 0.177° | 0.0192 | trailing Dione trojan | 2004 | Cassini | |
21 | V | †Rhea | /ˈriːə/ | 1527.0±1.2 (1530 × 1526 × 1525) | 2306518±353 | 527108 | +4.518212 | 0.327° | 0.001258 | 1672 | G. Cassini | ||
22 | VI | ♠Titan | /ˈtaɪtən/ | 5149.46±0.18 (5149 × 5149 × 5150) | 134520000±20000 | 1221930 | +15.94542 | 0.3485° | 0.0288 | 1655 | C. Huygens | ||
23 | VII | †Hyperion | /haɪˈpɪəriən/ | 270±8 (360 × 266 × 205) | 5620±50 | 1481010 | +21.27661 | 0.568° | 0.123006 | in 4:3 resonance with Titan | 1848 | W. Bond G. Bond W. Lassell | |
24 | VIII | †Iapetus | /aɪˈæpɪtəs/ | 1468.6±5.6 (1491 × 1491 × 1424) | 1805635±375 | 3560820 | +79.3215 | 15.47° | 0.028613 | 1671 | G. Cassini | ||
25 | XXIV | ‡Kiviuq | /ˈkɪviək/ | ≈ 16 | ≈ 2.79 | 11294800 | +448.16 | 49.087° | 0.3288 | Inuit group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
26 | XXII | ‡Ijiraq | /ˈiːɪrɒk/ | ≈ 12 | ≈ 1.18 | 11355316 | +451.77 | 50.212° | 0.3161 | Inuit group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
27 | IX | ♣†Phoebe | /ˈfiːbiː/ | 213.0±1.4 (219 × 217 × 204) | 8292±10 | 12869700 | −545.09 | 173.047° | 0.156242 | Norse group | 1899 | W. Pickering | |
28 | XX | ‡Paaliaq | /ˈpɑːliɒk/ | ≈ 22 | ≈ 7.25 | 15103400 | +692.98 | 46.151° | 0.3631 | Inuit group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
29 | XXVII | ♣Skathi | /ˈskɒði/ | ≈ 8 | ≈ 0.35 | 15672500 | −732.52 | 149.084° | 0.246 | Norse (Skathi) Group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
30 | XXVI | ♦Albiorix | /ˌælbiˈɒrɪks/ | ≈ 32 | ≈ 22.3 | 16266700 | +774.58 | 38.042° | 0.477 | Gallic group | 2000 | M. Holman | |
31 | ♣S/2007 S 2 | — | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 16560000 | −792.96 | 176.68° | 0.2418 | Norse group | 2007 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna, B. Marsden | ||
32 | XXXVII | ♦Bebhionn | /bɛˈviːn/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 17153520 | +838.77 | 40.484° | 0.333 | Gallic group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
33 | XXVIII | ♦Erriapus | /ɛriˈæpəs/ | ≈ 10 | ≈ 0.68 | 17236900 | +844.89 | 38.109° | 0.4724 | Gallic group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
34 | XLVII | ♣Skoll | /ˈskɒl/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 17473800 | −862.37 | 155.624° | 0.418 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
35 | XXIX | ‡Siarnaq | /ˈsiːɑːrnək/ | ≈ 40 | ≈ 43.5 | 17776600 | +884.88 | 45.798° | 0.24961 | Inuit group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
36 | LII | ‡Tarqeq | /ˈtɑːrkeɪk/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 17910600 | +894.86 | 49.904° | 0.1081 | Inuit group | 2007 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
37 | ♣S/2004 S 13 | — | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 18056300 | −905.85 | 167.379° | 0.261 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
38 | LI | ♣Greip | /ˈɡreɪp/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 18065700 | −906.56 | 172.666° | 0.3735 | Norse group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
39 | XLIV | ♣Hyrrokkin | /hɪˈrɒkɪn/ | ≈ 8 | ≈ 0.35 | 18168300 | −914.29 | 153.272° | 0.3604 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
40 | L | ♣Jarnsaxa | /jɑːrnˈsæksə/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 18556900 | −943.78 | 162.861° | 0.1918 | Norse group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
41 | XXI | ♦Tarvos | /ˈtɑːrvəs/ | ≈ 15 | ≈ 2.3 | 18562800 | +944.23 | 34.679° | 0.5305 | Gallic group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
42 | XXV | ♣Mundilfari | /mʊndəlˈværi/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 18725800 | −956.70 | 169.378° | 0.198 | Norse group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
43 | ♣S/2006 S 1 | — | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 18930200 | −972.41 | 154.232° | 0.1303 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D.C. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
44 | ♣S/2004 S 17 | — | ≈ 4 | ≈ 0.05 | 19099200 | −985.45 | 166.881° | 0.226 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
45 | XXXVIII | ♣Bergelmir | /bɛərˈjɛlmɪər/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 19104000 | −985.83 | 157.384° | 0.152 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
46 | XXXI | ♣Narvi | /ˈnɑːrvi/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 19395200 | −1008.45 | 137.292° | 0.320 | Norse (Narvi) group | 2003 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
47 | XXIII | ♣Suttungr | /ˈsʊtʊŋɡər/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 19579000 | −1022.82 | 174.321° | 0.131 | Norse group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
48 | XLIII | ♣Hati | /ˈhɑːti/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 19709300 | −1033.05 | 163.131° | 0.291 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
49 | ♣S/2004 S 12 | — | ≈ 5 | ≈ 0.09 | 19905900 | −1048.54 | 164.042° | 0.396 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
50 | XL | ♣Farbauti | /fɑːrˈbaʊti/ | ≈ 5 | ≈ 0.09 | 19984800 | −1054.78 | 158.361° | 0.209 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
51 | XXX | ♣Thrymr | /ˈθrɪmər/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 20278100 | −1078.09 | 174.524° | 0.453 | Norse group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
52 | XXXVI | ♣Aegir | /ˈaɪ.ɪər/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 20482900 | −1094.46 | 167.425° | 0.237 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
53 | ♣S/2007 S 3 | — | ≈ 5 | ≈ 0.09 | 20518500 | ≈ −1100 | 177.22° | 0.130 | Norse group | 2007 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
54 | XXXIX | ♣Bestla | /ˈbɛstlə/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 20570000 | −1101.45 | 147.395° | 0.5145 | Norse (Narvi) group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
55 | ♣S/2004 S 7 | — | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 20576700 | −1101.99 | 165.596° | 0.5299 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
56 | ♣S/2006 S 3 | — | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 21076300 | −1142.37 | 150.817° | 0.4710 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | ||
57 | XLI | ♣Fenrir | /ˈfɛnrɪər/ | ≈ 4 | ≈ 0.05 | 21930644 | −1212.53 | 162.832° | 0.131 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
58 | XLVIII | ♣Surtur | /ˈsɜːrtər/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 22288916 | −1242.36 | 166.918° | 0.3680 | Norse group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
59 | XLV | ♣Kari | /ˈkɑːri/ | ≈ 7 | ≈ 0.23 | 22321200 | −1245.06 | 148.384° | 0.3405 | Norse (Skathi) group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
60 | XIX | ♣Ymir | /ˈɪmɪər/ | ≈ 18 | ≈ 3.97 | 22429673 | −1254.15 | 172.143° | 0.3349 | Norse group | 2000 | B. Gladman, J. Kavelaars, et al. | |
61 | XLVI | ♣Loge | /ˈlɔɪ.eɪ/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 22984322 | −1300.95 | 166.539° | 0.1390 | Norse group | 2006 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna | |
62 | XLII | ♣Fornjot | /ˈfɔːrnjɒt/ | ≈ 6 | ≈ 0.15 | 24504879 | −1432.16 | 167.886° | 0.186 | Norse group | 2004 | S. Sheppard, D. Jewitt, J. Kleyna |
Unconfirmed moons
The following objects (observed by Cassini) have not been confirmed as solid bodies. It is not yet clear if these are real satellites or merely persistent clumps within the F Ring.
Name | Image | Diameter (km) | Semi-major axis (km) |
Orbital period (d) |
Position | Discovery year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S/2004 S 6 | ≈ 3–5 | ≈ 140130 | +0.61801 | uncertain objects around the F Ring | 2004 | |
S/2004 S 3/S 4[lower-alpha 7] | ≈ 3–5 | ≈ 140300 | ≈ +0.619 | 2004 |
Hypothetical moons
Two moons were claimed to be discovered by different astronomers but never seen again. Both moons were said to orbit between Titan and Hyperion.
References
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