Telesto (moon)
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 Click for Description |
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| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by: | Smith, Reitsema, Larson and Fountain |
| Discovery date: | April 8, 1980 |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Semi-major axis: | 294,619 km |
| Eccentricity: | 0.000 |
| Orbital period: | 1.887802 d [1] |
| Inclination: | 1.19° (to Saturn's equator) |
| Satellite of: | Saturn |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions: | 29 × 22 × 20 km [1] |
| Mean radius: | 11.8 ± 1.0 km [1] |
| Rotation period: | synchronous |
| Axial tilt: | zero |
Telesto IPA: [təˈlɛstoʊ], Greek Τελεστώ) is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Smith, Reitsema, Larson and Fountain in 1980 from ground-based observations, and was provisionally designated S/1980 S 13. In 1983 it was officially named after Telesto of Greek mythology. It is also designated as Saturn XIII.
Telesto is co-orbital with Tethys, residing in Tethys' leading Lagrangian point (L4). The moon Calypso resides in Tethys' trailing Lagrangian point (L5).
The Cassini probe performed a distant flyby of Telesto on October 11, 2005. The resulting images show that its surface is surprisingly smooth, devoid of small impact craters.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b C.C. Porco et al. (2006). "Physical characteristics and possible accretionary origins for Saturn's small satellites". Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society 37: 768.
| Moons of Saturn | |
|---|---|
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Generally listed in increasing distance from Saturn
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| Ring shepherds | Pan · Daphnis · Atlas · Prometheus · S/2004 S 6 · S/2004 S 4 · S/2004 S 3 · Pandora |
| Co-orbitals | Epimetheus · Janus |
| Inner large and Trojan | Mimas · Methone · Pallene · Enceladus · Tethys (trojans Telesto, Calypso) · Dione (trojans Helene, Polydeuces) |
| Outer large | Rhea · Titan · Hyperion · Iapetus |
| Inuit group | Kiviuq · Ijiraq · Paaliaq · Bebhionn · Siarnaq |
| Norse group | Phoebe · Skathi · Skoll · S/2004 S 13 · S/2006 S 4 · Hyrokkin · Mundilfari · S/2006 S 6 · S/2006 S 1 · S/2004 S 17 · Narvi · Bergelmir · Aegir · Suttungr · S/2004 S 12 · Bestla · Farbauti · Hati · S/2004 S 7 · Thrymr · S/2006 S 3 · Surtur · Kari · Fenrir · Ymir · Loge · Fornjot |
| Gallic group | Albiorix · Erriapo · Tarvos |
