8.9: Saturn’s Satellites
Saturn has 62 known moons (as of August 2014); a large number like Jupiter. Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system (to Jupiter’s Ganymede) and is also larger than the planet Mercury. Christian Huygens discovered Titan in 1655. Most of Saturn’s moons are very small; many are smaller than 50 kilometers (30 miles) across. As noted when discussing Saturn’s ring, there are several Shepard moons and Gap moons.
Saturn Satellites of Distinction
Brief Description
Enceladus
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Mimas
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Prometheus
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Titan
- Thick atmosphere of mostly Nitrogen, liquid methane on the surface
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Titan
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Prometheus