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Pandora (moon)
Encyclopedia
Pandora is an inner satellite
of Saturn
. It was discovered in 1980 from photos taken by the Voyager 1
probe, and was provisionally designated . In late 1985 it was officially named after Pandora
from Greek mythology
. It is also designated as .
Pandora is the outer shepherd satellite of the F Ring. It is more heavily cratered than nearby Prometheus
, and has at least two large craters 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) in diameter.
The orbit of Pandora appears to be chaotic, as a consequence of a series of four 118:121 mean motion resonances with Prometheus. The most appreciable changes in their orbits occur approximately every 6.2 years, when the periapsis of Pandora lines up with the apoapsis of Prometheus and the moons approach to within about 1400 kilometres (869.9 mi). Pandora also has a 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Mimas
.
From its very low density and relatively high albedo
, it seems likely that Pandora is a very porous icy body. There is a lot of uncertainty in these values, however, so this remains to be confirmed.
Inner satellite
In astronomy, an inner moon is a natural satellite following a prograde, low inclination orbit inwards of the large satellites of the parent planet. They are generally thought to have been formed in situ at the same time as the coalescence of the original planet...
of Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
. It was discovered in 1980 from photos taken by the Voyager 1
Voyager 1
The Voyager 1 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram space probe launched by NASA in 1977, to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space. Operating for as of today , the spacecraft receives routine commands and transmits data back to the Deep Space Network. At a distance of as of...
probe, and was provisionally designated . In late 1985 it was officially named after Pandora
Pandora
In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman. As Hesiod related it, each god helped create her by giving her unique gifts...
from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
. It is also designated as .
Pandora is the outer shepherd satellite of the F Ring. It is more heavily cratered than nearby Prometheus
Prometheus (moon)
-Animations:-External links:* at ** anaglyph view of Prometheus...
, and has at least two large craters 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) in diameter.
The orbit of Pandora appears to be chaotic, as a consequence of a series of four 118:121 mean motion resonances with Prometheus. The most appreciable changes in their orbits occur approximately every 6.2 years, when the periapsis of Pandora lines up with the apoapsis of Prometheus and the moons approach to within about 1400 kilometres (869.9 mi). Pandora also has a 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Mimas
Mimas (moon)
Mimas is a moon of Saturn which was discovered in 1789 by William Herschel. It is named after Mimas, a son of Gaia in Greek mythology, and is also designated Saturn I....
.
From its very low density and relatively high albedo
Albedo
Albedo , or reflection coefficient, is the diffuse reflectivity or reflecting power of a surface. It is defined as the ratio of reflected radiation from the surface to incident radiation upon it...
, it seems likely that Pandora is a very porous icy body. There is a lot of uncertainty in these values, however, so this remains to be confirmed.