6/3/2023 0 Comments Facts about saturns moon atlasIt is the only known body in the Solar System known to do this. Its axis of rotation wobbles so much that its rotational period varies from one orbit to the next. One odd feature about Hyperion is the fact that its rotation is very chaotic. The largest of these craters measures 75 miles (120 km) in diameter and 6.2 miles (10 km deep). The surface of Hyperion is heavily cratered, indicating that it is probably the oldest surface in the Saturnian system. It has a low albedo, which seems to suggest that it may be covered with some type of dark material, possible from the moon Phoebe. Hyperion has a very low density, which indicates that it is probably composed mainly of water ice with a small amount of rocky material. Astronomers believe that a collision with another object may have blasted away part of the moon, leaving behind the irregular fragment we see today. Most other moons of this size are spherical in shape. It is the largest irregular object in the Solar System. Hyperion was discovered by Bond and Lassell in 1848. He was also the son of Gaea and Uranus and the father of Helios. In Greek mythology, Hyperion was a Titan. Hyperion is the sixteenth of Saturn's moons. Astronomers believe that the Epimetheus and Janus may have formed from a single moon that was broken in two by some cataclysmic event. This exchange takes place about every four years. Thus, the outer moon becomes the inner and vice versa. As the two moons approach each other they exchange momentum and trade orbits with each other. Both moons share the same orbit of about 94,095 miles (151,472 km) from Saturn's center. Its surface appears to be older than that of Prometheus and younger than that of Pandora. Some of these craters approach 19 miles (30 km) in diameter. The surface of Janus is heavily cratered. In 1978, Fountain and Larson were able to show that there were actually two moons in the same orbit. Although he is credited with the discovery, it is not certain whether what he saw was Janus or Epimetheus. Janus was first discovered by the French astronomer Audouin Dollfus in 1966. It was named after the ancient god of gates and doorways, who was often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. This means that both moons share the same orbit of about 94,095 miles (151,472 km) from Saturn's center. Epimetheus is considered to be co-orbital with Janus. Some of these craters are as large as 19 miles (30 km) in diameter. Epimetheus has a very irregular shape and is covered with ridges, grooves and craters. In 1977, Fountain and Larson were able to show that there were actually two moons involved. At the time, the discovery was somewhat confusing since Janus shares a similar orbit. Epimetheus was first discovered in 1966 by R. It was named after the son of Iapetus and brother of Prometheus and Atlas. He is best known in Greek mythology for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humanity.Epimetheus is the fifth of Saturn's moons. Originally designated S/1980 S27, Prometheus is named for the son of the Titan Iapetus and brother of Atlas and Epimetheus. But as many new moons were discovered scientists began selecting names from more mythologies, including Gallic, Inuit and Norse stories. Moons of Saturn were originally named for Greco-Roman Titans and descendants of the Titans. The potato-shaped moon is about 26.8 miles (43.1 kilometers) in mean radius, orbiting Saturn at a distance of 87,000 miles (139,000 kilometers), taking 14.7 hours to go around the planet. The density of Prometheus has been estimated to be low it is probably a porous, icy body. However, it is much less cratered than its nearby neighbors Pandora, Janus and Epimetheus. Prometheus is extremely irregular and has visible craters - some up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter. Prometheus acts as a shepherding moon, constraining the extent of the inner edge of Saturn's F Ring. The Voyager 1 science team discovered Prometheus in October 1980.
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