Prometheus (moon) facts for kids
Prometheus is one of the many moons that orbit the giant planet Saturn. It was first spotted in 1981 by Stewart Collins, who was looking at pictures taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft. This moon got its name from a god in ancient Greek mythology.
Prometheus is quite special because it acts like a "shepherd" for Saturn's F ring. This means it helps to keep the ring's particles in a narrow, defined path, much like a sheepdog keeps a flock together.
Discovering Prometheus
Prometheus was found in 1981 using images sent back by the Voyager 1 probe. This spacecraft was one of the first to fly past Saturn and send detailed pictures back to Earth. Stewart Collins carefully studied these photos and found the tiny moon.
Prometheus and Saturn's F Ring
Prometheus is known as a shepherd moon. It orbits very close to Saturn's F ring, which is one of the planet's thinnest and outermost rings. As Prometheus moves, its gravity pulls on the tiny ice and rock particles that make up the F ring. This gravitational pull helps to keep the ring particles from spreading out, making the ring look very narrow and clear. It's like the moon is herding the ring particles, keeping them in line!
Size and Shape
Prometheus is a small moon, shaped a bit like a potato. It's not perfectly round like Earth's Moon. It measures about 136 kilometers (85 miles) long, 79 kilometers (49 miles) wide, and 59 kilometers (37 miles) thick. Its surface is covered in craters, which are marks left by impacts from space rocks.
Images for kids
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Prometheus flyby (December 6, 2015)
