1810 Epimetheus

1810 Epimetheus is an asteroid that was discovered on September 24, 1960 by Cornelis Johannes Van Houten, Ingrid Van Houten-Groeneveld, and Tom Gehrels at Palomar Observatory near Pauma Valley, California. It was named after Epimetheus the Titan in Greek mythology. One of Saturn's satellites is also named Epimetheus. Orbital revolution: 3 years, 115 days … | Previous minor planet ...

Read more here: » 1810 Epimetheus: Encyclopedia - 1810 Epimetheus

Epimetheus may mean one of several things: Epimetheus (mythology) the Titan. Epimetheus (moon) the moon of Saturn. 1810 Epimetheus is an asteroid. Other related archives1810 Epimetheus, Epimetheus (moon), Epimetheus (mythology), Saturn, Titan, asteroid, moon

Read more here: » Epimetheus: Encyclopedia - Epimetheus

Epimetheus occupies essentially the same orbit as the moon Janus. Astronomers assumed that there was only one body in that orbit, and accordingly had a hard time figuring out their orbital characteristics; it is obviously impossible to reconcile the observations of two distinct objects as a single object. Audouin Dollfus observed a moon on December 15, 1966, which he proposed to be named "Janus"[3]. On December 18, Richard L. Walker made a similar observation which is now credited as the discovery of Epimetheus[4]. However, at the time, it was believed that there was only one moon, unoff ...

See also:

Epimetheus moon, Epimetheus moon - Discovery, Epimetheus moon - Orbital relationship between Epimetheus and Janus, Epimetheus moon - Physical characteristics

Read more here: » Epimetheus moon: Encyclopedia II - Epimetheus moon - Discovery

Although the borders may be somewhat nebulous, Saturn's moons can be divided into eight groups. Saturn's natural satellites - The ring shepherds. Shepherd satellites are moons that orbit within, or just beyond, a planet's ring system. They have the effect of sculpting the rings: giving them sharp edges, and creating gaps between them. Saturn's shepherd moons are Pan, Daphnis, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, S/2004 S 3, in addition to the unconfirmed moons S/2004 S 4 and S/2004 S 6. See also:

Saturn's natural satellites, Saturn's natural satellites - Introduction, Saturn's natural satellites - Table of known moons, Saturn's natural satellites - Grouping the moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The ring shepherds, Saturn's natural satellites - The co-orbitals, Saturn's natural satellites - The inner large moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The Trojan moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The outer large moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The Inuit group, Saturn's natural satellites - The Norse group, Saturn's natural satellites - The Gallic group, Saturn's natural satellites - Naming notes

Read more here: » Saturn's natural satellites: Encyclopedia II - Saturn's natural satellites - Grouping the moons

The Saturnian moons are listed here by orbital period, from shortest to longest. Moons massive enough for their surfaces to have collapsed into a spheroid are highlighted in light purple. Titan, which is planetary in size, has darker highlighting. The irregular (captured) moons are indicated in grey. (Pronunciation key) (1) Computed from the semi-major axis using the IAU-MPC Natural Satellites Ephemeris Service µ value (2) It is not yet clear if these are real satellites or merely persisten ...

See also:

Saturn's natural satellites, Saturn's natural satellites - Introduction, Saturn's natural satellites - Table of known moons, Saturn's natural satellites - Grouping the moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The ring shepherds, Saturn's natural satellites - The co-orbitals, Saturn's natural satellites - The inner large moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The Trojan moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The outer large moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The Inuit group, Saturn's natural satellites - The Norse group, Saturn's natural satellites - The Gallic group, Saturn's natural satellites - Naming notes

Read more here: » Saturn's natural satellites: Encyclopedia II - Saturn's natural satellites - Table of known moons

There are several Epimethean craters larger than 30 km in diameter, as well as both large and small ridges and grooves. The extensive cratering indicates that Epimetheus must be quite old. Janus and Epimetheus may have formed from a disruption of a single parent to form co-orbital satellites, but if this is the case the disruption must have happened early in the history of the satellite system. From its very low density and relatively high albedo, it seems likely that Epimetheus is a very porous icy body. There is a lot of uncertainty in ...

See also:

Epimetheus moon, Epimetheus moon - Discovery, Epimetheus moon - Orbital relationship between Epimetheus and Janus, Epimetheus moon - Physical characteristics

Read more here: » Epimetheus moon: Encyclopedia II - Epimetheus moon - Physical characteristics

Epimetheus and Janus are co-orbital: Janus' orbital radius from Saturn is currently 151,472 km and Epimetheus' orbital radius is 151,422 km, a separation of only 50 km. Since closer orbits have higher velocities, the two moons must inevitably approach each other, and since Epimetheus' diameter is 115 km and Janus' is 178 km it would seem at first glance that a collision were inevitable. But as the inner moon catches up with the outer moon their gravitational attraction boosts the inner moon's momentum and raises its orbit, while the o ...

See also:

Epimetheus moon, Epimetheus moon - Discovery, Epimetheus moon - Orbital relationship between Epimetheus and Janus, Epimetheus moon - Physical characteristics

Read more here: » Epimetheus moon: Encyclopedia II - Epimetheus moon - Orbital relationship between Epimetheus and Janus

Saturn is currently known to have 47 moons, many of which were discovered very recently, and 3 suspected moons. However, a precise number of moons can never be given, as there is no objective dividing line between the anonymous orbiting fragments that form Saturn's ring system and the larger objects that have already been named as moons. Before the Space Age, 9 moons were known to orbit Saturn. In 1980, the Voyager space probes discovered 9 more moons in the inner Saturnian system. A survey starting in l ...

See also:

Saturn's natural satellites, Saturn's natural satellites - Introduction, Saturn's natural satellites - Table of known moons, Saturn's natural satellites - Grouping the moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The ring shepherds, Saturn's natural satellites - The co-orbitals, Saturn's natural satellites - The inner large moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The Trojan moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The outer large moons, Saturn's natural satellites - The Inuit group, Saturn's natural satellites - The Norse group, Saturn's natural satellites - The Gallic group, Saturn's natural satellites - Naming notes

Read more here: » Saturn's natural satellites: Encyclopedia II - Saturn's natural satellites - Introduction