Calypso (moon) facts for kids
Calypso is a tiny moon that orbits the giant planet Saturn. It is one of Saturn's many moons. Scientists first spotted Calypso in 1980 using telescopes on Earth. This moon is named after Calypso, a nymph from ancient Greek mythology.
Calypso is special because it is a "Trojan moon". This means it shares its orbit with a much larger moon called Tethys. Calypso always stays about 60 degrees behind Tethys as they both travel around Saturn. Another moon, Telesto, also shares this same path around Saturn.
Discovering Calypso
Scientists found Calypso in 1980. They used powerful telescopes to observe Saturn and its moons from Earth. Its discovery helped us learn more about the many objects orbiting Saturn.
Calypso's Unique Orbit
Calypso is known as a Trojan moon. It shares its path around Saturn with the bigger moon Tethys. Imagine Tethys as a leader, and Calypso follows behind it at a steady distance.
This special arrangement is due to gravity. The gravity of Saturn and Tethys creates stable spots in Tethys's orbit. Calypso stays in one of these spots, always 60 degrees behind Tethys. Another moon, Telesto, is also a Trojan moon of Tethys, but it stays 60 degrees ahead of Tethys.
Images for kids
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Another February 13, 2010 image showing flow-like albedo features
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Cassini image from September 23, 2005
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Calypso as seen by Voyager 2 (August 1981)
See also
In Spanish: Calipso (satélite) para niños
