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Space Topics: Saturn

Methone (S/2004 S1)

First Moon Discovered in Cassini Images

Discovery image of Methone (S/2004 S1)
Click to enlarge >
Credit: NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute

Size: Roughly 3 kilometers
Orbital radius: 194,000 kilometers - 3.22 Saturn radii - within the E ring - between Mimas and Enceladus
Orbital period: 1.01 days - about 1/16 of Titan’s
Discovery: 2005 by C. Porco et al.

Methone and nearby Pallene were the first two moons to be discovered in Cassini images. Little else is known about this tiny moon.

Methone discovery animation
Methone discovery animation
Methone was visible in 27 of 150 images captured by Cassini on June 1, 2004 as it approached Saturn. A complete animation of the moon's motion is available at the Planetary Photojournal. Credit: NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute