Known Space   --   Sol   --   Saturn   --  

Epimetheus


Epimetheus is the fifth satellite of Saturn. It has an irregular shape with a size of 144 x 108 x 98 kilometers in diameter. It is traversed by several large and small grooves, valleys and ridges. Several craters larger than 30 km can be seen on its surface. The pervasive cratering indicates that its surface must be several billion years old. The above image shows the shadow of Saturn's F Ring crossing its surface.

Epimetheus and Janus are "co-orbital" ... they share the same orbit of 151,472 kilometers from Saturn's center or 91,000 kilometers above the cloud tops. They are only separated by about 50 kilometers. As these two satellites approach each other they exchange a little momentum and trade orbits; the inner satellite becomes the outer and the outer moves to the inner position. This exchange happens about once every four years. Janus and Epimetheus may have formed from a disruption of a single parent to form co-orbital satellites. If this is the case, the disruption must have happened early in the history of the satellite system.


Orbital Distance:   151,400 km (average)
Eccentricity:       0.009
Local Year:         0.694 days (16h 39m 21s)
Orbital Velocity:   15.867 km/s
Inclination:        0.340°
Local Day:          0.694 days (16h 39m 21s)
Axial Tilt:         n/a

Diameter:           144 km x 108 km x 98 km
Composition:        Ice
Density:            0.72 g/cm3
Mass:               5.9 x 1014 tonnes (94/billion earths)
Gravity:            0.0012 G
Escape Velocity:    0.036 km/s
Area:               40,000 km2
Surface Material:   Mostly H2O ice
Atmosphere:         None
Pressure:           None
Albedo:             0.80
Temperature:        ???°C

FAQ - Astronomical Glossary


Copyright © 1996 Trisen Games