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 from isaturn.zip in Orbiter 2002
  • 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 | Bestla | 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 S 7 | S/2004 S 12 | S/2004 S 13 | S/2004 S 17 | S/2004 S 21 | S/2004 S 24 | S/2004 S 26 | S/2004 S 28 | S/2004 S 29 | S/2004 S 31 | S/2004 S 34 | S/2004 S 36 | S/2004 S 37 | S/2004 S 39 | S/2004 S 40 | S/2004 S 41 | S/2004 S 42 | S/2004 S 43 | S/2004 S 44 | S/2004 S 45 | S/2004 S 46 | S/2004 S 47 | S/2004 S 48 | S/2004 S 49 | S/2004 S 50 | S/2004 S 51 | S/2004 S 52 | S/2004 S 53 | S/2005 S 4 | S/2005 S 5 | S/2006 S 1 | S/2006 S 3 | S/2006 S 9 | S/2006 S 10 | S/2006 S 11 | S/2006 S 12 | S/2006 S 13 | S/2006 S 14 | S/2006 S 15 | S/2006 S 16 | S/2006 S 17 | S/2006 S 18 | S/2006 S 19 | S/2006 S 20 | S/2007 S 2 | S/2007 S 3 | S/2007 S 5 | S/2007 S 6 | S/2007 S 8 | S/2007 S 9 | S/2009 S 1 | S/2019 S 1 | S/2019 S 2 | S/2019 S 3 | S/2019 S 4 | S/2019 S 5 | S/2019 S 6 | S/2019 S 7 | S/2019 S 8 | S/2019 S 9 | S/2019 S 10 | S/2019 S 11 | S/2019 S 12 | S/2019 S 13 | S/2019 S 14 | S/2019 S 15 | S/2019 S 16 | S/2019 S 17 | S/2019 S 18 | S/2019 S 19 | S/2019 S 20 | S/2019 S 21 | S/2020 S 1 | S/2020 S 2 | S/2020 S 3 | S/2020 S 4 | S/2020 S 5 | S/2020 S 6 | S/2020 S 7 | S/2020 S 8 | S/2020 S 9 | S/2020 S 10

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