Anthe (moon) - Mashpedia All-in-One Encyclopedia

Anthe
Discovery
Discovery images of Anthe
Discovered by	CICLOPS Team ^[1]
Discovery date	May 30, 2007
Orbital characteristics ^[2]
Semi-major axis	197,700 km
Eccentricity	0.001
Orbital period	1.03650 d
Inclination	0.1° to Saturn's equator
Satellite of	Saturn
Physical characteristics
Mass	5 ×10¹² kg ^[a]
Mean density	unknown
Equatorial surface gravity	unknown
Rotation period	assumed synchronous
Axial tilt	unknown
Albedo	unknown

Anthe (pron.: /ˈænθiː/ AN-thee;^[b] Greek: Άνθη) is a very small natural satellite of Saturn lying between the orbits of Mimas and Enceladus. It is also known as Saturn XLIX; its provisional designation was S/2007 S 4. It is named after one of the Alkyonides; the name means flowery. It is the sixtieth confirmed moon of Saturn.^[3]

It was discovered by the Cassini Imaging Team^[1] in images taken on May 30, 2007.^[2] Once the discovery was made, a search of older Cassini images revealed this small satellite in observations from as far back as June 2004. It was first announced on July 18, 2007.^[2]

Anthe is visibly affected by a perturbing mean-longitude resonance with the much larger Mimas. This causes its osculating orbital elements to vary with an amplitude of about 20 km in semi-major axis on a timescale of about 2 Earth years. The close proximity to the orbits of Pallene and Methone suggests that these moons may form a dynamical family.

References [edit]

Explanatory

^ Assumed density of 1.2 g/cm³
^ This name is too new to appear in dictionaries, but the OED has the analogous rhodanthe /roʊˈdænθiː/.

Citations

^ ^a ^b CICLOPS Team.
^ ^a ^b ^c IAUC 8857.
^ Agle 2007.

Sources

"Cassini Imaging Science Team". Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for OPerationS. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
Agle, D. C. (July 19, 2007). "Saturn Turns 60". Cassini Solstice Mission. JPL/NASA. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
Green, Daniel W. E. (July 18, 2007). "S/ 2007 S 4". IAU Circular 8857. Retrieved 2012-01-01.

External links [edit]

Media related to Anthe at Wikimedia Commons

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From Dark Obscurity... A Tiny New Saturnian Moon Comes To Light

v t e Moons of Saturn

Generally listed in increasing distance from Saturn. Temporary names in italics.

Ring shepherds	S/2009 S 1 Propeller moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus ?(S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3) Pandora

Co-orbitals	Epimetheus Janus

G Ring	Aegaeon

Inner large (with Trojans)	Mimas Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces

Alkyonides	Methone Anthe Pallene

Outer large	Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus

Inuit group	Kiviuq Ijiraq Paaliaq Siarnaq Tarqeq

Norse group	Phoebe Skathi S/2007 S 2 Skoll S/2004 S 13 Greip Hyrrokkin Mundilfari Jarnsaxa S/2006 S 1 S/2004 S 17 Narvi Bergelmir Aegir Suttungr S/2004 S 12 Bestla Farbauti Hati S/2004 S 7 Thrymr S/2007 S 3 S/2006 S 3 Surtur Kari Fenrir Ymir Loge Fornjot

Gallic group	Albiorix Bebhionn Erriapus Tarvos

Rings of Saturn Cassini–Huygens Themis Chiron In fiction