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Saturn Menu  

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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