Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2019 October 17

                               Moons of Saturn
             Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, NASA

   Explanation: On July 29, 2011 the Cassini spacecraft's narrow-angle
   camera took this snapshot and captured 5 of Saturn's moons, from just
   above the ringplane. Left to right are small moons Janus and Pandora
   respectively 179 and 81 kilometers across, shiny 504 kilometer diameter
   Enceladus, and Mimas, 396 kilometers across, seen just next to Rhea.
   Cut off by the right edge of the frame, Rhea is Saturn's second largest
   moon at 1,528 kilometers across. So how many moons does Saturn have?
   Twenty new found outer satellites bring its total to 82 known moons,
   and since Jupiter's moon total stands at 79, Saturn is the Solar
   System's new moon king. The newly announced Saturnian satellites are
   all very small, 5 kilometers or so in diameter, and most are in
   retrograde orbits inclined to Saturn's ringplane. You can help name
   Saturn's new moons, but you should understand the rules. Hint: A
   knowledge of Norse, Inuit, and Gallic mythology will help.

                 Tomorrow's picture: interstellar interloper
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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