Atlas (moon)
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| Missing image Atlas_Rev09.2x.jpg Atlas, as imaged by Cassini on June 8, 2005 | |||||||
| Discovery | |||||||
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| Discovered by | Terrile, Voyager 1 | ||||||
| Discovered in | October, 1980 | ||||||
| Orbital characteristics | |||||||
| Mean radius | 137,670 km [1] (http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Sat_Atlas&Display=Facts) | ||||||
| Eccentricity | 0.000 | ||||||
| Orbital period | 0.603 d | ||||||
| Inclination | 0.007° (to Saturn's equator) | ||||||
| Satellite of | Saturn | ||||||
| Physical characteristics | |||||||
| Mean diameter | 18.5 × 17.2 × 13.5 km | ||||||
| Surface area | km2 | ||||||
| Mass | 1016 kg | ||||||
| Mean density | 0.63 g/cm3 | ||||||
| Surface gravity | m/s2 | ||||||
| Escape velocity | km/s | ||||||
| Rotation period | synchronous | ||||||
| Axial tilt | zero | ||||||
| Albedo | |||||||
| Surface temperature |
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| Atmospheric pressure | 0 kPa | ||||||
Atlas (at'-lus, Greek Άτλας) is a moon of Saturn.
Atlas was discovered by Richard Terrile in 1980 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 in Atlas' orbit.
High-resolution images taken in June 2005 reveal a saucer-shaped moon with a large equatorial ridge.
External links
- The Planetary Society: Atlas (http://www.planetary.org/saturn/atlas.html)
... | S/2005 S 1 | Atlas | Prometheus | ...
| Saturn's natural satellites |
|---|
| Janus' group | Mimas | Enceladus | Tethys | Dione | Rhea | Titan | Hyperion | Iapetus | Inuit group | Gallic group | Norse group |
fr:Atlas (lune) nl:Atlas (maan) ja:アトラス (衛星) nn:Saturnmånen Atlas sk:Atlas (mesiac) zh:土卫十五