Telesto (moon)

Telesto
Telesto as seen by the Cassini probe on 11 October 2005
Discovery
Discovered by
Discovery dateApril 8, 1980
Designations
Designation
Saturn XIII
Pronunciation/təˈlɛstoʊ/
Named after
Τελεστώ Telestō
Tethys B
S/1980 S 13
AdjectivesTelestoan /tɛləˈstoʊ.ən/ or Telestoian /tɛləˈstoʊ.iən/
Orbital characteristics
295000 km[1]
Eccentricity0.001[1]
1.887802 d[1]
Inclination1.19° (to Saturn's equator)
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupL4 Tethys trojan
Physical characteristics
Dimensions33.2 × 23.4 × 19.2 km
(± 0.6 × 0.6 × 0.4 km)[2]: 2 
24.6±0.6 km[2]: 2 
Volume7795 km3[a]
Mass≈ 4×1015 kg (assumed; unmeasured)[b]
Mean density
≈ 0.5 g/cm3 (assumed; unmeasured)[2]: 3 
≈ 0.0011–0.0014 m/s2[2]: 3 
≈ 0.006 km/s at longest axis
to ≈ 0.007 km/s at poles
zero
18.7[3]

Telesto /təˈlɛstoʊ/ is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Smith, Reitsema, Larson and Fountain in 1980 from ground-based observations, and was provisionally designated S/1980 S 13.[4] In the following months, several other apparitions were observed: S/1980 S 24,[5] S/1980 S 33,[6] and S/1981 S 1.[7]

In 1983 it was officially named after Telesto of Greek mythology.[c] It is also designated as Saturn XIII or Tethys B.

Telesto is co-orbital with Tethys, residing in Tethys' leading Lagrangian point (L4). This relationship was first identified by Seidelmann et al. in 1981.[8] Another moon, Calypso, resides in the other (trailing) Lagrangian point of Tethys, 60 degrees in the other direction from Tethys. The Saturnian system has two additional trojan moons.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jpl-satelem was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e Thomas & Helfenstein 2020.
  3. ^ Hamilton.
  4. ^ IAUC 3466.
  5. ^ IAUC 3484.
  6. ^ IAUC 3605.
  7. ^ IAUC 3593.
  8. ^ Seidelmann Harrington et al. 1981.


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