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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