Pandora (moon)
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Pandora 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.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". In late 1985, it was officially named after Pandora from Greek mythology.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". It is also designated as Saturn XVII.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Pandora was thought to be an outer shepherd satellite of the F Ring. However, recent studies indicate that it does not play such a role, and that only Prometheus, the inner shepherd, contributes to the confinement of the narrow ring.[1][2] It is more heavily cratered than nearby Prometheus and has at least two large craters Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. The majority of craters on Pandora are shallow as a result of being filled with debris. Ridges and grooves are also present on the moon's surface.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
The orbit of Pandora appears to be chaotic as a consequence of a series of four 118:121 mean-motion resonances with Prometheus.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The most appreciable changes in their orbits occur approximately every 6.2 years,Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". when the periapsis of Pandora lines up with the apoapsis of Prometheus and the moons approach to within about Script error: No such module "convert".. Pandora also has a 3:2 mean-motion resonance with Mimas.Script error: No such module "Footnotes".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
From its very low density and relatively high albedo, it seems likely that Pandora is a very porous icy body. However, there is much uncertainty in these values, so this remains to be confirmed.
Gallery
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Voyager 2 image of Pandora (August 1981).
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View of the moon, taken during September 2005 flyby by Cassini.
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Pandora as seen from the Cassini probe in 2005; the rings of Saturn are in the background.
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Cassini captured this close view of Saturn's moon Pandora during the spacecraft's flyby on June 3, 2010.
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References
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Notes
Citations
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External links
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