Atlas (moon)

Atlas (at'-lus, Greek Άτλας) is a moon of Saturn.

Atlas
Discovery
Discovered by Terrile, Voyager 1
Discovered in October, 1980
Orbital characteristics
Mean radius 137,670 km [1]
Eccentricity 0.000
Orbital period 0.603 d
Inclination 0.007° (to Saturn's equator)
Satellite of Saturn
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter 37×34.4×27 km
Surface area ~13,500 km2
Volume ~18,000 km3
Mass 1.1×1016 kg
Mean density 0.63 g/cm3
Surface gravity ~0.0026 m/s2
Escape velocity ~0.0095 km/s
Rotation period synchronous
Axial tilt zero
Albedo 0.4
Surface temperature
min mean max
K ~81 K K
Atmospheric pressure 0 kPa

Atlas was discovered by Richard Terrile in 1980 (some time before November 12) from Voyager photos and was designated 1980 S 28. In 1983 it was officially named after Atlas of Greek mythology, because it "holds the rings on its shoulders" like the Titan Atlas held the sky up above the Earth. It is also designated as Saturn XV.

Atlas seems to be a shepherd satellite of the A ring. Furthermore, in 2004 a faint, thin ring, temporarily designated R/2004 S 1, was discovered within Atlas's orbit.

High-resolution images taken in June 2005 by Cassini reveal a saucer-shaped moon with a large equatorial ridge.

Links

The Planetary Society: Atlas


... | Daphnis | Atlas | Prometheus | ...



Saturn's natural satellites


Pan | Daphnis | Atlas | Prometheus | S/2004 S 6 | S/2004 S 4 | S/2004 S 3 | Pandora | Epimetheus and Janus | Mimas | Methone | Pallene | Enceladus | Telesto, Tethys, and Calypso | Polydeuces, Dione, and Helene | Rhea | Titan | Hyperion | Iapetus | Kiviuq | Ijiraq | Phoebe | Paaliaq | Skathi | Albiorix | S/2004 S 11 | Erriapo | Siarnaq | S/2004 S 13 | Tarvos | Mundilfari | S/2004 S 17 | Narvi | S/2004 S 15 | S/2004 S 10 | Suttungr | S/2004 S 12 | S/2004 S 18 | S/2004 S 9 | S/2004 S 14 | S/2004 S 7 | Thrymr | S/2004 S 16 | Ymir | S/2004 S 8

see also: Rings of Saturn | Cassini-Huygens | Themis

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