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Encyclopedia > Saturn > Inner satellites III

THE INNER SATELLITES OF SATURN
"SHEPHERDS OF THE RINGS" : ATLAS (S-15)



   
Credit NASA/ESA

Atlas (Saturn XV) was discovered by R.Terrile in 1980 from Voyager photos. Its revolution period is 14 hours et 27 minutes. 

Atlas has a very particular form of satellite formation by aggregation of dust from the rings. 

Characteristics Values
distance to Saturn 137 670 km 
average size  32 km 
visual magnitude  18
revolution period 0.602 days
rotation period 0.602 days
inclination of the orbit
on the equator of Saturn		 0.3° 
eccentricity of the orbit 0.002
density (water=1)   ? 

 

Origin of the name: click here.