Prometheus

Discovery
Discovered by	Collins, Voyager 1
Discovered in	October, 1980
Orbital characteristics
Semimajor axis	139,353 km [1]
Eccentricity	0.0024
Orbital period	0.614102 d
Inclination	0.007° (to Saturn's equator)
Is a satellite of	Saturn
Physical characteristics
Diameter	148×100×68 km
Surface area	km2
Mass	3.3×1017 kg
Mean density	0.63 g/cm3
Surface gravity	0.0087m/s2
Rotation period	synchronous
Axial tilt	zero
Albedo	0.6
Atmosphere	none

Prometheus (proe-mee'-thee-us, Greek Προμηθέας) is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered in 1980 from Voyager photos, and was designated 1980 S 27. In 1985 it was officially named after Prometheus, a Titan in Greek mythology. It is also designated as Saturn XVI. Prometheus, Saturns moon. ... A NASA artists rendition of a Voyager spacecraft The Voyager 1 spacecraft is an 815-kilogram unmanned probe of the outer solar system and beyond, launched September 5, 1977, and currently operational. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes, around another object, whilst under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity. ... In geometry, the semi-major axis (also semimajor axis) a applies to ellipses and hyperbolas. ... A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ... In astrodynamics, under standard assumptions any orbit must be of conic section shape. ... The orbital period is the time it takes a planet (or another object) to make one full orbit. ... Inclination is one of the six orbital parameters describing the shape and orientation of a celestial orbit and is the angular distance of the orbital plane from the plane of the reference (usually planets equator or the ecliptic), stated in degrees. ... Moons of solar system scaled to Earths Moon The common noun moon (not capitalized) is used to mean any natural satellite of the other planets. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ... For the geometric term, see diameter. ... This article explains the meaning of area as a physical quantity. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... Mass is a property of physical objects that, roughly speaking, measures the amount of matter they contain. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ... Density (symbol: ρ - Greek: rho) is a measure of mass per unit of volume. ... It has been suggested that Law of universal gravitation be merged into this article or section. ... Acceleration is the time rate of change of velocity, and at any point on a v-t graph, it is given by the gradient of the tangent to that point In physics, acceleration (symbol: a) is defined as the rate of change (or time derivative) of velocity. ... In astronomy, synchronous rotation is a planetological term describing a body orbiting another, where the orbiting body takes as long to rotate on its axis as it does to make one orbit; and therefore always keeps the same hemisphere pointed at the body it is orbiting. ... Axial tilt is an astronomical term regarding the inclination angle of a planets rotational axis in relation to its orbital plane. ... The albedo is a measure of reflectivity of a surface or body. ... Atmosphere is the general name for a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass. ... Moons of solar system scaled to Earths Moon The common noun moon (not capitalized) is used to mean any natural satellite of the other planets. ... Atmospheric characteristics Atmospheric pressure 140 kPa Hydrogen >93% Helium >5% Methane 0. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The Voyager spacecraft Launch of Voyager 2 Voyager is also the name of a planned series of unmanned probes to Mars, cancelled in 1968. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the mythological figure. ... In Greek mythology, the Titans (Greek Τιτάν, plural Τιτᾶνες) are among a series of gods, some of whom opposed Zeus and the Olympian gods in their ascent to power. ... Greek mythology comprises the collected narratives of Greek gods, goddesses, heroes, and heroines, originally created and spread within an oral-poetic tradition. ...

This small moon is extremely elongated, measuring about 148 by 100 by 68 km. It has several ridges and valleys and a number of impact craters of about 20 km diameter are visible, but it is less cratered than nearby Pandora, Epimetheus and Janus. From its very low density and relatively high albedo, it seems likely that Prometheus is a very porous icy body. There is a lot of uncertainty in these values, however, and so this remains to be confirmed. This article is about impact craters, also known as meteor craters. ... Pandora (pan-dor-a, Greek Πανδώρα) is a moon of Saturn. ... Epimetheus (ep-i-mee-thee-us, Greek Επιμηθεύς) is a moon of Saturn. ... Janus (jay-nus, Greek Ιανός) is a moon of Saturn. ... The albedo is a measure of reflectivity of a surface or body. ...

Closeup of Prometheus's gravitational effect on the F Ring

Prometheus acts as a shepherd satellite for the inner edge of Saturn's F Ring. Recent images from the Cassini probe show that the Promethean gravitational field creates kinks and knots in the F Ring as the moon 'steals' material from it. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (928x1076, 37 KB)Prometheus causing kinks in Saturns F Ring. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (928x1076, 37 KB)Prometheus causing kinks in Saturns F Ring. ... A planetary ring is a ring of dust and other small particles orbiting around a planet in a flat disc-shaped region. ... Close up view of Prometheus and the F Ring Categories: Astronomy stubs | Saturn ... This is an artists concept of Cassini during the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) maneuver, just after the main engine has begun firing. ...

There is also an asteroid called 1809 Prometheus. An asteroid is a small, solid object in our Solar System, orbiting the Sun. ...

External links

• The Planetary Society: Prometheus

Atmospheric pressure 0 kPa Atlas (at-lus, Greek Άτλας) is a moon of Saturn. ... S/2004 S 6 is the provisional designation of a natural satellite of Saturn that was discovered in 2004 (on October 28 images) by the Cassini probe team, led by Carolyn C. Porco et al. ...