Helene (moon)

Helene
High-resolution view of leading hemisphere, showing gullies and apparent dust (regolith) flows (Cassini, June 2011)
Discovery[1]
Discovered byP. Laques
J. Lecacheux
Discovery sitePic du Midi Observatory
Discovery dateMarch 1, 1980
Designations
Designation
Saturn XII
Pronunciation/ˈhɛlən/[2]
Named after
Helen of Troy (Ἑλένη Helenē)
  • Dione B
  • S/1980 S 6
AdjectivesHelenean /hɛləˈnən/[3]
Orbital characteristics
377600 km[4]
Eccentricity0.007[4]
2.736916 d[4]
Inclination0.199° (to Saturn's equator)
Satellite ofSaturn
GroupL4 Dione trojan
Physical characteristics
Dimensions45.2 × 39.2 × 26.6 km
(± 0.4 × 0.6 × 0.4 km)[5]
36.2±0.4 km[5]
Volume24840 km3[a]
Mass(7.1±0.2)×1015 kg[6]
Mean density
0.2926±0.0217 g/cm3[6]
0.0009 m/s2 at longest axis
to 0.0027 m/s2 at poles
0.0065 km/s at longest axis
to 0.0084 km/s at poles
assumed synchronous
zero
Albedo1.67±0.20 (geometric)[7]

Helene /ˈhɛlən/ is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Pierre Laques and Jean Lecacheux in 1980 from ground-based observations at Pic du Midi Observatory,[1] and was designated S/1980 S 6.[8] In 1988 it was officially named after Helen of Troy, who was the granddaughter of Cronus (Saturn) in Greek mythology.[9] Helene is also designated Saturn XII (12), which it was given in 1982, and Dione B,[10] 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
  1. ^ a b Lecacheux1980.
  2. ^ John Walker (1839) A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary and Expositor of the English Language;
    also per "Helena". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
  3. ^ Clarified as Helenéan in Earle (1841) Marathon: and other poems, p. 76.
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference jpl-satelem was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Thomas & Helfenstein 2020, p. 2.
  6. ^ a b Jacobson 2022, p. 6.
  7. ^ Verbiscer et al. 2007.
  8. ^ IAUC 3496.
  9. ^ IAUC 4609.
  10. ^ Transactions of the International Astronomical Union, Vol. XVIIIA, 1982 (mentioned in IAUC 3872: Satellites of Jupiter and Saturn, September 30, 1983


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