Collage of Saturn’s Smaller Satellites
Caption:
This family portrait shows the smaller satellites of Saturn as viewed by Voyager 2 during its swing through the Saturnian system. The following chart corresponds to this composite photograph (distance from the planet increases from left to right) and lists names, standard numerical designations and approximate dimensions (radii where indicated) in kilometers:
1980S26
Outer F-ring
shepherd
120 X 100
|
1980S1
Leading
co-orbital
220 X 160
|
1980S25
Trailing
Tethys trojan
radii: 25
|
1980S28
Outer A
shepherd
radii: 20
|
1980S27
Inner F-ring
co-orbital
145 X 70
|
1980S3
Trailing
Tethys trojan
140 X 100
|
1980S13
Leading
Tethys trojan
radii: 30
|
1980S6
Leading
Dione trojan
radii: 30
|
|
These images have been scaled to show the satellites in true relative sizes. This set of small objects ranges in size from small asteroidal scales to nearly the size of Saturn's moon Mimas. They are probably fragments of somewhat larger bodies broken up during the bombardment period that followed accretion of the Saturnian system. Scientists believe they may be mostly icy bodies with a mixture of meteorite rock. They are somewhat less reflective than the larger satellites, suggesting that thermal evolution of the larger moons "cleaned up" their icy surfaces.
Background Info:
The Voyager project is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
Cataloging Keywords:
Name |
Value |
Additional Values |
Target |
Saturn |
Dione, F Ring, Mimas, Saturn Rings, Tethys |
System |
Saturn |
|
Target Type |
Planet |
Ring, Satellite |
Mission |
Voyager |
|
Instrument Host |
Cassini Orbiter |
Voyager 2 |
Host Type |
Orbiter |
Flyby Spacecraft |
Instrument |
Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS) |
|
Detector |
|
|
Extra Keywords |
Asteroid, Grayscale, Thermal |
Acquisition Date |
|
Release Date |
1999-04-11 |
Date in Caption |
|
|
Image Credit |
NASA/JPL |
Source |
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA01954 |
Identifier |
PIA01954 |