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Helene

Also known as Saturn XII, Dione B, S/1980 S 6

moon of Saturn

AI overview

Helene is a small moon that orbits Saturn, discovered in 1980. It is notable for sharing an unusual orbital arrangement with two other Saturn moons, Tethys and Dione, where it remains in a stable gravitational configuration with them.

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Wikidata facts

Diameter: 35.2
Mass: 11
Orbital period: 2.736915
Image: PIA12758 Helene crop.jpg

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Commons category: Helene (moon)
time of discovery or invention: 1980-03-01
provisional designation: S/1980 S 6
orbital eccentricity: 0.0022
semi-major axis of an orbit: 377396
orbital inclination: 0.199
albedo: 1.67

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Article

Helene /ˈhɛləniː/ is a natural satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Pierre Laques and Jean Lecacheux in 1980 from ground-based observations at Pic du Midi Observatory, and was designated S/1980 S 6. In 1988 it was officially named after Helen of Troy, who was the granddaughter of Cronus (Saturn) in Greek mythology. Helene is also designated Saturn XII (12), which it was given in 1982, and Dione B, because it is co-orbital with Dione and located in its leading Lagrangian point (L4). It is one of four known trojan moons.

Animation of Helene's orbit relative to Saturn and Dione Polydeuces · Helene · Dione · Saturn