Saturn's Moons

Saturn has 83 known moons orbiting it. Saturn's moons vary in shape and size from very large spherical objects to small fragments of rocks. Saturn has eight large major moons. These are Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan, Hyperian and Iapetus. With the exception of Hyperian, all of them are spherical. Hyperian has a rather odd shape and resembles a sponge!
Titan is Saturn's largest moon. It was discovered in 1655 by the Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens and is the second largest moon in the solar system. The solar system's largest moon is Ganymede which orbits Jupiter. Titan is unique as it's the only moon to have a substantial atmosphere. Mimas is a moon with a huge crater that makes it look a little like Darth Vader's Death Star from Star Wars, and Enceladus appears to spew out jets of water and possibly has an ocean under its icy outer layer.

Saturn's inner moons and four of its major moons are located within the planet's famous ring system. Its four other major moons orbit beyond
the rings. All of these moons are classed as regular moons which means that they formed while orbiting Saturn. They orbit in the same direction that Saturn
rotates. This is known as a prograde orbit. They also orbit on a similar plane to Saturn's equator and rings.
At a much greater distance out are Saturn's irregular outer moons. Their orbits are a bit all over the place with some being circular while others
are oval-shaped, and they travel at differing inclinations, meaning that they seem to go around the planet diagonally rather that around its equator.
Irregular moons are ones that have been captured by Saturn's gravitational pull.
Below is a list of Saturn's moons, grouped into colourful categories.
List of Saturn's Moons
Name of Moon | Diameter | Orbital Distance | Length of Orbit | Discovered | Discoverer | Group |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
S/2009 S 1 | 0 km
0 miles |
117,000 km 72,704 miles |
11 hours | 2009 | Cassini Imaging Team | Shepherd |
Pan | 28 km
(34 x 31 x 20) 18 miles |
133,584 km 83,009 miles |
14 hours | 1990 | Mark Robert Showalter | Shepherd |
Daphnis | 8 km
5 miles |
136,505 km 84,824 miles |
14 hours | 2005 | Cassini Imaging Team | Shepherd |
Atlas | 30 km
19 miles |
137,670 km 85,548 miles |
14 hours | 1980 | Richard Terrile | Shepherd |
Prometheus | 86 km
54 miles |
139,380 km 86,611 miles |
15 hours | 1980 | Stewart A. Collins | Shepherd |
Pandora | 81 km
51 miles |
141,720 km 88,065 miles |
15 hours | 1980 | Stewart A. Collins | Shepherd |
Epimetheus | 116 km
72 miles |
151,422 km 94,094 miles |
17 hours | 1966 | Richard Walker | Co-orbital |
Janus | 179 km
111 miles |
151,472 km 94,125 miles |
17 hours | 1966 | Audouin Dollfus | Co-orbital |
Aegaeon | 1 km
0 miles |
167,500 km 104,085 miles |
19 hours | 2008 | Carolyn Porco (Cassini Imaging Team) | G-Ring |
Mimas | 396 km
246 miles |
185,404 km 115,210 miles |
23 hours | 1789 | William Herschel | Major |
Methone | 3 km
2 miles |
194,440 km 120,825 miles |
24 hours | 2004 | Cassini Imaging Team | Alkyonides |
Anthe | 2 km
1 miles |
197,700 km 122,851 miles |
25 hours | 2007 | Cassini Imaging Team | Alkyonides |
Pallene | 4 km
3 miles |
212,280 km 131,911 miles |
27 hours | 2004 | Cassini Imaging Team | Alkyonides |
Enceladus | 504 km
313 miles |
237,950 km 147,862 miles |
33 days | 1789 | William Herschel | Major |
Calypso | 21 km
13 miles |
294,619 km 183,076 miles |
45 hours | 1980 | Dan Pascu, P. Kenneth Seidelmann, William A. Baum, Douglas G. Currie | Co-orbital |
Telesto | 25 km
15 miles |
294,619 km 183,076 miles |
45 hours | 1980 | Bradford A. Smith, Harold Reitsema, Stephen M. Larson, John W. Fountain | Co-orbital |
Tethys | 1,062 km
660 miles |
294,619 km 183,076 miles |
45 hours | 1684 | Giovanni Domenico Cassini | Major |
Dione | 1,123 km
698 miles |
377,396 km 234,514 miles |
66 hours | 1684 | Giovanni Domenico Cassini | Major |
Helene | 35 km
22 miles |
377,396 km 234,514 miles |
66 hours | 1980 | Pierre Laques, Jean Lecacheux | Co-orbital |
Polydeuces | 3 km
2 miles |
377,396 km 234,514 miles |
66 hours | 2004 | Cassini Imaging Team | Co-orbital |
Rhea | 1,528 km
949 miles |
527,108 km 327,545 miles |
108 hours | 1672 | Giovanni Domenico Cassini | Major |
Titan | 5,149 km
3,200 miles |
1,221,930 km 759,307 miles |
16 days | 1655 | Christiaan Huygens | Major |
Hyperion | 270 km
168 miles |
1,481,010 km 920,300 miles |
21 days | 1848 | William Bond, George Bond, William Lassell | Major |
Iapetus | 1,469 km
913 miles |
3,560,820 km 2,212,694 miles |
79 days | 1671 | Giovanni Domenico Cassini | Major |
S/2019 S 1 | 5 km
3 miles |
11,221,100 km 0 miles |
444 days | 2019 | Edward Ashton, Bredd J. Gladman, Jean-Marc Petit, Mike Alexanderson | Inuit |
Kiviuq | 17 km
11 miles |
11,307,500 km 7,026,481 miles |
449 days | 2000 | J. J. Kavelaars | Inuit |
Ijiraq | 13 km
8 miles |
11,348,500 km 7,051,958 miles |
451 days | 2000 | J. J. Kavelaars, Brett J. Gladman | Inuit |
Phoebe | 213 km
132 miles |
12,905,900 km 8,019,726 miles |
548 days | 1899 | William Henry Pickering | Norse |
Paaliaq | 25 km
16 miles |
15,012,800 km 9,328,954 miles |
687 days | 2000 | J. J. Kavelaars | Inuit |
Skathi | 8 km
5 miles |
15,563,600 km 9,671,221 miles |
728 days | 2000 | Brett J. Gladman and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 37 | 4 km
2 miles |
15,822,400 km 9,832,039 miles |
753 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2007 S 2 | 6 km
4 miles |
15,971,500 km 9,924,690 miles |
808 days | 2007 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Albiorix | 29 km
18 miles |
16,222,700 km 10,080,786 miles |
783 days | 2000 | Matthew J. Holman and team | Gallic |
Bebhionn | 6 km
4 miles |
16,900,900 km 10,502,219 miles |
835 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Gallic |
S/2004 S 29 | 4 km
2 miles |
17,202,800 km 10,689,820 miles |
859 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Inuit |
Skoll | 5 km
3 miles |
17,438,300 km 10,836,160 miles |
878 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 31 | 4 km
2 miles |
17,449,700 km 10,843,244 miles |
854 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Inuit |
Erriapus | 10 km
6 miles |
17,705,500 km 11,002,198 miles |
871 days | 2000 | J. J. Kavelaars and team | Gallic |
Tarqeq | 7 km
4 miles |
17,724,200 km 11,013,818 miles |
888 days | 2007 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Inuit |
Siarnaq | 39 km
24 miles |
17,937,000 km 11,146,052 miles |
896 days | 2000 | J. J. Kavelaars, Brett J. Gladman | Inuit |
Tarvos | 15 km
9 miles |
18,243,800 km 11,336,697 miles |
926 days | 2000 | J. J. Kavelaars, Brett J. Gladman | Gallic |
Hyrrokkin | 8 km
5 miles |
18,348,800 km 11,401,944 miles |
932 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Greip | 5 km
3 miles |
18,379,000 km 11,420,711 miles |
921 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Mundilfari | 7 km
4 miles |
18,470,800 km 11,477,755 miles |
953 days | 2000 | Brett J. Gladman and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 13 | 6 km
4 miles |
18,594,700 km 11,554,747 miles |
933 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2006 S 1 | 5 km
3 miles |
18,839,700 km 11,706,990 miles |
1015 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2007 S 3 | 5 km
3 miles |
19,143,500 km 11,895,771 miles |
978 days | 2007 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Suttungr | 7 km
4 miles |
19,166,800 km 11,910,250 miles |
1017 days | 2000 | Brett J. Gladman and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 20 | 4 km
2 miles |
19,188,100 km 11,923,485 miles |
990 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Jamsaxa | 6 km
4 miles |
19,197,900 km 11,929,575 miles |
965 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Narvi | 7 km
4 miles |
19,226,600 km 11,947,409 miles |
1004 days | 2003 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Bergelmir | 5 km
3 miles |
19,290,200 km 11,986,930 miles |
1006 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Hati | 5 km
3 miles |
19,435,300 km 12,077,095 miles |
1039 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 17 | 4 km
2 miles |
19,574,300 km 12,163,470 miles |
986 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 12 | 5 km
3 miles |
19,736,400 km 12,264,199 miles |
1046 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 27 | 6 km
4 miles |
19,982,800 km 12,417,312 miles |
1033 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Farbauti | 5 km
3 miles |
20,101,600 km 12,491,134 miles |
1085 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Thrymr | 8 km
5 miles |
20,236,700 km 12,575,085 miles |
1094 days | 2000 | Brett J. Gladman and team | Norse |
Bestla | 8 km
5 miles |
20,432,100 km 12,696,507 miles |
1084 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 7 | 6 km
4 miles |
20,576,700 km 12,786,361 miles |
1140 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Aegir | 6 km
4 miles |
20,598,900 km 12,800,156 miles |
1117 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 30 | 3 km
2 miles |
20,733,300 km 12,883,673 miles |
1084 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 22 | 3 km
2 miles |
20,737,100 km 12,886,034 miles |
1080 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 25 | 4 km
2 miles |
20,814,800 km 12,934,317 miles |
1095 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 32 | 4 km
2 miles |
20,963,400 km 13,026,657 miles |
1175 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 23 | 4 km
2 miles |
21,444,300 km 13,325,488 miles |
1164 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2006 S 3 | 6 km
4 miles |
21,607,300 km 13,426,776 miles |
1227 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 35 | 6 km
4 miles |
21,864,500 km 13,586,600 miles |
1208 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Kari | 6 km
4 miles |
21,988,000 km 13,663,343 miles |
1234 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 28 | 4 km
2 miles |
22,134,400 km 13,754,316 miles |
1197 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Loge | 5 km
3 miles |
22,563,800 km 14,021,145 miles |
1313 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 38 | 4 km
2 miles |
22,616,000 km 14,053,582 miles |
1296 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Fenrir | 4 km
2 miles |
22,753,400 km 14,138,963 miles |
1260 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Ymir | 19 km
12 miles |
22,841,900 km 14,193,957 miles |
1312 days | 2000 | Brett J. Gladman and team | Norse |
Surtur | 6 km
4 miles |
23,065,900 km 14,333,150 miles |
1298 days | 2006 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 33 | 4 km
2 miles |
23,087,600 km 14,346,635 miles |
1362 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 24 | 3 km
2 miles |
23,326,300 km 14,494,963 miles |
1318 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Ungrouped |
S/2004 S 21 | 3 km
2 miles |
23,356,200 km 14,513,543 miles |
1365 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 39 | 3 km
2 miles |
23,463,800 km 14,580,405 miles |
1278 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 36 | 3 km
2 miles |
23,576,500 km 14,650,437 miles |
1354 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
Fornjot | 6 km
4 miles |
24,451,700 km 15,194,286 miles |
1491 days | 2004 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 34 | 3 km
2 miles |
24,865,000 km 15,451,111 miles |
1413 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |
S/2004 S 26 | 4 km
2 miles |
26,701,600 km 16,592,374 miles |
1624 days | 2019 | Scott S. Sheppard and team | Norse |