Pandora (moon)

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There is also an asteroid called 55 Pandora.

**Pandora**
Discovery
Pandora, as imaged by Cassini
Discovered by	Collins, Voyager 1
Discovery date	October, 1980
Orbital characteristics^[1]
Epoch 31 December 2003 (JD 2453005.5
Semi-major axis	141,720 ± 10 km
Eccentricity	0.0042
Orbital period	0.628504213 d
Inclination	0.050 ± 0.004° to Saturn's equator
Satellite of	Saturn
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	103×80×64 km^[2]
Mean radius	40.3 ± 2.2 km^[2]
Surface area	~21,000 km²
Volume	~270,000 km³
Mass	1.356 ± 0.022 ×10¹⁷ kg^[1]
Mean density	0.49 ± 0.08 g/cm³
Equatorial surface gravity	0.0034 m/s²
Escape velocity	~0.019 km/s
Rotation period	synchronous
Axial tilt	zero
Albedo	0.6
Temperature	~78 K

Pandora (pronounced /pænˈdɔərə/ pan-DOHR-ə, or as in Greek Πανδώρα) is an inner satellite of Saturn. It was discovered in 1980 from photos taken by the Voyager 1 probe, and was provisionally designated S/1980 S 26.^[3] In late 1985 it was officially named after Pandora from Greek mythology.^[4] It is also designated as Saturn XVII.^[5]

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 km in diameter.^[6]

The orbit of Pandora appears to be chaotic, as a consequence of a mean motion resonance with Prometheus. The most appreciable changes in their orbits occur approximately every 6.2 years,^[1] when the periapsis of Pandora lines up with the apoapsis of Prometheus and the moons approach to within about 1,400 km. Pandora also has a 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Mimas.^[1]

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.

[edit] Gallery

Voyager 2 image of Pandora.

Pandora as seen from the Cassini probe in 2005; the rings of Saturn are in the background.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Spitale, J. N.; et al. (2006). "The orbits of Saturn's small satellites derived from combined historic and Cassini imaging observations". The Astronomical Journal 132 (2): 692–710. doi:10.1086/505206.
^ ^a ^b Porco, C. C.; et al. (2006). "Physical Characteristics and Possible Accretionary Origins for Saturn's Small Satellites". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 37: 768.
^ IAUC 3532: Satellites of Saturn 1980 October 31 (discovery)
^ IAUC 4157: Satellites of Saturn and Pluto 1986 January 3 (naming the moon)
^ "Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology (July 21, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-07.
^ NASA JPL Solar System Exploration: Saturn: Moons: Pandora

[edit] External links

v • d • e Moons of Saturn

Generally listed in increasing distance from Saturn. Temporary names in italics.

Ring shepherds	moonlets · Pan · Daphnis · Atlas · Prometheus · ?S/2004 S 6 · ?S/2004 S 4 · ?S/2004 S 3 · Pandora

Co-orbitals	Epimetheus · Janus

Inner large (with Trojans)	Mimas · Methone · Anthe · Pallene · Enceladus · Tethys (Telesto • Calypso) · Dione (Helene • Polydeuces)

Outer large	Rhea (rings) · Titan · Hyperion · Iapetus

Inuit group	Kiviuq · Ijiraq · Paaliaq · Siarnaq · Tarqeq

Norse group	Phoebe · Skathi · S/2007 S 2 · Skoll · S/2004 S 13 · Greip · Hyrrokkin · Mundilfari · Jarnsaxa · S/2006 S 1 · S/2004 S 17 · Narvi · Bergelmir · Aegir · Suttungr · S/2004 S 12 · Bestla · Farbauti · Hati · S/2004 S 7 · Thrymr · S/2007 S 3 · S/2006 S 3 · Surtur · Kari · Fenrir · Ymir · Loge · Fornjot

Gallic group	Albiorix · Bebhionn · Erriapus · Tarvos

Rings of Saturn · Cassini-Huygens · Themis · Chiron

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