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.

Mimas taken from Cassini Orbiter on 22nd October 2016 (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)

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.

Shepherd Group

Regular moons which are located nearby Saturn's rings. The moons are in pairs with one moon on the inner side of a ring and the other on the outer side of it. The two moons appear to hold the ring in place by "shepherding" it as they orbit the planet.

Co-orbital Moons

Regular moons which appear to share their orbit with another moon, travelling around Saturn together. Epimetheus and Janus orbit with each other, while Telesto and Calypso orbit with their mother moon Tethys. Helene and Polydeuces keep Dione company.

G Ring Group

A regular moon with a group all to itself! This moon is Aagaeon and it orbits inside Saturn's G Ring.

Alkyonides

Three small regular moons orbiting between the larger moons Mimas and Enceladus. They are named after three of the seven daughters of the giant Alcynoeus from Greek mythology.

Major Moons

Saturn's largest moons, all big enough to be spherical in shape, with the exception of Hyperion which looks a bit like a shrivelled-up sponge! Their large size means they were the first moons of Saturn to be discovered.

Inuit Group

Eight irregular prograde moons orbiting at a distance of 11 to 18 million kilometres from Saturn, inclined at 40 to 50 degrees and with varying orbital eccentricities. In other words, some travel in circular orbits, others are more egg-shaped. They are all reddish in colour and are believed to have formed from the break up of a larger object. Prograde means they orbit in the same direction as Saturn spins.

Norse Group

A large group of irregular retrograde moons orbiting at a distance of 12 to 24 million kilometres from Saturn, inclined at 136 to 175 degrees and in orbits of all shapes and sizes. Some of the moons are separated into further subgroups, known as the Skathi group and the Narvi group. With the exception of Phoebe, all moons in the Norse group are named after figures from Norse mythology, mythology from Scandinavian regions.

Gallic Group

Four irregular prograde moons orbiting at a distance of 16 to 19 million kilometres from Saturn, inclined at 35 to 45 degrees and with similar oval-shaped orbits. The moons are named after figures in Gallic or Celtic mythology, mythology from Ireland, Scotland and Wales and parts of England and France.

Ungrouped

Moons that either haven't been put into a group yet, or don't appear to fit the category to be part of any of the groups so are left ungrouped. There is currently only one ungrouped moon of Saturn. It also doesn't yet have a name, and instead goes under the codename S/2004 S 24.

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

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