Pallene (moon)
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Pallene (pə-lee'-nee, IPA Template:IPA, Greek Παλλήνη) is a natural satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by the Cassini Imaging team led by Carolyn C. Porco, et al. in 2004, and given the temporary designation S/2004 S 2. Pallene orbits Saturn at a distance of about 211 Mm (thus its period is 1.144 d) and is about 4 kilometres in diameter. It is also designated as Saturn XXXIII.
It was seen first on August 23, 1981 by Voyager 2 in a single photograph and named S/1981 S 14. Its distance to Saturn was then estimated at 200 Mm. Since it was not visible in other images, its orbit could not be calculated.
Like Methone, it orbits in a fairly regular orbit around Saturn between Mimas and Enceladus.
The names Methone and Pallene have been provisionally approved by the IAU Division III Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature. They should be officially approved at the IAU General Assembly in 2006. Pallene was one of the Alkyonides, the seven beautiful daughters of the Giant Alkyoneus.
External links
- IAUC 8471 announcing the names (January 21, 2005)
- C. C. Porco et al., Cassini Imaging Science: Initial Results on Saturn's Rings and Small Satellites [1], Science, Vol. 307, Issue 5713, pp. 1226-1236 (February 25, 2005; subscription required)
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