File:PIA12714_Janus_crop.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Janus
Sign in to saveAlso known as Saturn X, S/1966 S 2, S/1979 S 2, S/1980 S 1, S/1980 S 2
moon of Saturn
Janus is a small moon of Saturn that orbits very close to the planet. It's notable because it shares an orbital path with another Saturnian moon called Epimetheus, and the two moons periodically swap positions as they travel around Saturn.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Diameter
- 180
- Mass
- 1.9
- Orbital period
- 0.69466
- Image
- Janus - Voyager 2.jpg
Show 9 more facts
- Commons category
- Janus (moon)
- time of discovery or invention
- 1966-12-15
- albedo
- 0.71
- orbital eccentricity
- 0.0068
- semi-major axis of an orbit
- 151500
- orbital inclination
- 0.163
- density
- 0.63
- surface gravity
- 0.017
- name
- Saturn X
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Article
Janus /ˈdʒeɪnəs/ is an inner satellite of Saturn. It is named after the mythological Janus. This natural satellite was first identified by Audouin Dollfus on December 15, 1966, although it had been unknowingly photographed earlier by Jean Texereau. Further observations led to the realization that Janus shares a unique orbital relationship with another moon, Epimetheus. The discovery of these two moons' peculiar co-orbital configuration was later confirmed by Voyager 1 in 1980.
History