Epimetheus

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Epimetheus
Epimetheus021015.jpg
Epimetheus in Orbiter 2016 with D3D9 client
Designation
Name Epimetheus
Reference body Saturn
Planetary mean orbits
Epoch 1999.0
Semimajor axis (a) 1.515×108 m
Eccentricity (e) 0.0205
Inclination (i) 0.3323155212°
(0.0058 radian)
Longitude of the ascending node (LAN, ☊) 335.0026932°
(5.8469 radian)
Longitude of periapsis (ϖ) 140.2600682°
(2.448 radian)
Mean longitude (L) 32.97372111°
(0.5755 radian)
Selected physical parameters
Mean radius 115000 m
Mass 5.6×1017 kg
Note *Elements given are from Epimetheus.cfg (isaturn.zip)

Epimetheus (Saturn XI, S/1979 S 1) is a one of the inner moons of Saturn. Janus was discovered by Audouin Dollfus on 15 December 1966. Richard Walker saw what was thought to be the same object three days later since it seemed to haave the same orbit around Saturn. After twelve years, it was realized that there were, in fact, two objects co-orbiting the same region of Saturn's space.

Epimetheus shares the same orbit with Janus. When Janus is in a slightly smaller orbit than Epimetheus, Janus gets ahead of Epimetheus and over time catches up from behind. As Epimetheus pulls Janus toward it, Janus speeds up and Epimetheus slows down slightly, and they 'swap orbits'. Then the process reverses. This cycle occurs about every four years.

Epimetheus in Orbiter

Epimetheus was introduced to Orbiter with the release of isaturn.zip in October 2002.

Orbiter versions and add-ons which include Epimetheus
Add-on Source Version Author Type Release Date Compatibility Wiki article
Inner Moons of Saturn AVSIM Rolf Keibel Scenery 15 October 2002

See also

Epimetheus at Wikipedia

Gallery

  • Epimetheus as seen by the Cassini spacecraft in December 2007,
    from Wikimedia Commons
  • Illustration of the 'horseshoe' orbits of Epimetheus and Janus showing their co-orbiting. Saturn's size and orbital radius are close to scale, but, the inner to outer distance is exaggerrated about 500× and the sizes of the moons are exaggerated about 50 times.
    From Wikimedia Commons
Saturn's natural satellites

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Named Satellites: Aegaeon | Aegir | Albiorix | Alvaldi | Angrboda | Anthe | Atlas | Bebhionn | Beli | Bergelmir | Bestia | Calypso | Daphnis | Dione | Eggther | Enceladus | Epimetheus | Erriapus | Farbauti | Fenrir | Fornjot | Geirrod | Gerd | Greip | Gridr | Gunnlod | Hati | Helene | Hyperion | Hyrrokkin | Iapetus | Ijiraq | Janus | Jarnsaxa | Kari | Kiviuq | Loge | Methone | Mimas | Mundilfari | Narvi | Paaliaq | Pallene | Pan | Pandora | Phoebe | Polydeuces | Prometheus | Rhea | Siarnaq | Skathi | Skoll | Skrymir | Surtur | Suttungr | Tarqeq | Tarvos | Telesto | Tethys | Thiazzi | Thrymr | Titan | Ymir

Numbered Satellites: S/2004 S7 | S/2004 S12 | S/2004 S13 | S/2004 S17 | S/2004 S21 | S/2004 S24 | S/2004 S26 | S/2004 S28 | S/2004 S29 | S/2004 S31 | S/2004 S34 | S/2004 S36 | S/2004 S37 | S/2004 S39 | S/2004 S40 | S/2004 S41 | S/2004 S42 | S/2004 S43 | S/2004 S44 | S/2004 S45 | S/2004 S46 | S/2004 S47 | S/2004 S48 | S/2004 S49 | S/2004 S50 | S/2004 S51 | S/2004 S52 | S/2004 S53 | S/2005 S4 | S/2005 S5 | S/2006 S1 | S/2006 S3 | S/2006 S9 | S/2006 S10 | S/2006 S11 | S/2006 S12 | S/2006 S13 | S/2006 S14 | S/2006 S15 | S/2006 S16 | S/2006 S17 | S/2006 S18 | S/2006 S19 | S/2006 S20 | S/2007 S2 | S/2007 S3 | S/2007 S5 | S/2007 S6 | S/2007 S8 | S/2007 S8 | S/2007 S9 | S/2009 S1 | S/2019 S1 | S/2019 S2 | S/2019 S3 | S/2019 S4 | S/2019 S5 | S/2019 S6 | S/2019 S7 | S/2019 S8 | S/2019 S9 | S/2019 S10 | S/2019 S11 | S/2019 S12 | S/2019 S13 | S/2019 S14 | S/2019 S15 | S/2019 S16 | S/2019 S17 | S/2019 S18 | S/2019 S19 | S/2019 S20 | S/2019 S21 | S/2020 S1 | S/2020 S2 | S/2020 S3 | S/2020 S4 | S/2020 S5 | S/2020 S6 | S/2020 S7 | S/2020 S8 | S/2020 S9 | S/2020 S10

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