Polydeuces (moon)

Polydeuces (pol'-ee-dew'-seez, Greek Πολυδεύκης) is a natural satellite of Saturn that was discovered on images taken on October 21, 2004 by the Cassini imaging team, led by Carolyn C. Porco et al, and given the temporary designation S/2004 S 5. It is co-orbital with Dione and is located in the trailing Lagrangian point (L5). Its diameter is estimated to be about 3.5 km. It is also designated as Saturn XXXIV.

Polydeuces
Discovery
Discovered by	Porco et al.
Discovered in	2004
Orbital characteristics
Semimajor axis	377,396 km
Eccentricity	0.0182
Orbital period	2.736915 d [1]
Inclination	0.1705°
Is a satellite of	Saturn
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	3.5 km
Mass	? kg
Mean density	? g/cm3
Surface gravity	? m/s2
Rotation period	synchronous
Axial tilt	zero
Albedo	?
Surface temperature	min mean max  ? K  ? K  ? K
Atmosphere	none

Of the known Lagrangian co-orbitals in the Saturn system, Polydeuces wanders the most from the Lagrangian point, straying up to 32 degrees from L5.

The name Polydeuces was approved by the IAU Working Group on Planetary Science Nomenclature on January 21, 2005. In Greek mythology, Polydeuces is another name for Pollux, brother of Castor.

... | Telesto, Tethys, Calypso | Polydeuces, Dione, Helene | Rhea | ...

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