Cassini Solstice Mission: Helene

Helene

Moons - Helene

Return to Moons page

Helene Multimedia Gallery

Helene [hell EEN]is referred to as a Trojan moon because it orbits Saturn in the Lagrange point of the larger moon Dione. Discovered in 1980 during the Earth ring-plane crossing by J. Lecasheux et al., the moon is small and very faint.

How Helene Got its Name

John Herschel suggested that the moons of Saturn be associated with mythical brothers and sisters of Kronus. (Kronus is the equivalent of the Roman god Saturn in Greek mythology.) The International Astronomical Union now controls the official naming of astronomical bodies.

Originally designated S/1980 S6, Helene is named after the granddaughter of Kronus and is the sister of Polydeuces. Helene was born out of an egg since Zeus took the shape of a swan when he raped her mother Leda. The account of this engendering is retold in the poem "Leda and the Swan" by William Butler Yeats. This same figure in Greek mythology was the cause of the Trojan War.

Flyby Dates

No targeted flyby.

Closest approach: March 3, 2010 -- 1,856 kilometers (1,153 miles)

Fast Facts

Discovered by P. Laques and J. Lecacheus in 1980
Distance from Saturn: 377,400 km (234,505 miles)
Equatorial Diameter: 36 x 32 x 30 km (22 x 19 x 18.6 miles)
Mass: 8 x 10¹⁷ kg (17.6 x 10¹⁷ lbs)

Science Goals

Determine the characteristics and geological history of Helene
Define the different physical processes that created the surface of Helene
Investigate composition and distribution of surface materials on Helene -- particularly dark, organic-rich material and condensed ices
Determine the bulk composition and internal structure of Helene
Investigate interaction of Helene with Saturn's magnetosphere and ring system


	Saturn's Moons (sorted alphabetically)

Aegaeon Aegir Albiorix Anthe Atlas Bebhionn Bergelmir Bestla Calypso Daphnis Dione Enceladus Epimetheus Erriapus	Farbauti Fenrir Fornjot Greip Hati Helene Hyperion Hyrrokkin Iapetus Ijiraq Janus Jarnsaxa Kari Kiviuq	Loge Methone Mimas Mundilfari Narvi Paaliaq Pallene Pan Pandora Phoebe Polydeuces Prometheus Rhea	Siarnaq Skadi Skoll Surtur Suttung Tarqeq Tarvos Telesto Tethys Thrym Titan Ymir
New Discoveries Science Objectives Publications

Jet Propulsion Laboratory