Methone (moon)

Methone
	Cassini image of Methone's leading side taken on 20 May 2012
Discovery
Discovered by	Cassini Imaging Team
Discovery date	June 1, 2004
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXXII
Pronunciation	/mɛˈθoʊniː/
Named after	Μεθώνη Methōnē
Adjectives	Methonean /mɛθəˈniːən/
Orbital characteristics
	Epoch June 20, 2004 (JD 2453177.5)
Semi-major axis	194440±20 km
Eccentricity	0.0001
Orbital period	1.009573975 d
Inclination	0.007°±0.003° (to Saturn's equator)
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Alkyonides
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	(3.88±0.04) × (2.58±0.08) × (2.42±0.04) km
Mean radius	1.45±0.03 km
Mean density	0.31+0.05; −0.03 g/cm3
Rotation period	synchronous
Axial tilt	zero

Methone /mɛˈθoʊniː/ is a small, egg-shaped moon of Saturn that orbits out past Saturn's ring system, between the orbits of Mimas and Enceladus. It was discovered in 2004, though it wasn't until 2012 that it was imaged in detail by the Cassini spacecraft.

History[]

Discovery image of Methone on 1 June 2004^[7]

Methone was first discovered by the Cassini Imaging Team^[1]^[8]^[9] and given the temporary designation S/2004 S 1. Methone is also named Saturn XXXII (32). The Cassini spacecraft made two visits to Methone, and its closest approach was made on May 20, 2012 with a minimum distance of 1,900 km (1,181 mi) from it.

The name Methone was approved by the IAU Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature on January 21, 2005.^[10] It was ratified at the IAU General Assembly in 2006. Methone (Greek Μεθώνη) was one of the Alkyonides, the seven beautiful daughters of the Giant Alkyoneus.

Orbit[]

Methone's orbit is perturbed by a 14:15 mean-motion resonance with the much larger Mimas. This causes its osculating orbital elements to vary with an amplitude of about 20 km (12 mi) in semi-major axis, and 5° in longitude of its periapsis on a timescale of about 450 days. Its eccentricity also varies, albeit on different timescales, between 0.0011 and 0.0037, and its inclination between about 0.003° and 0.020°.^[5]

Physical characteristics[]

In May 2012, the Cassini spacecraft took its first close-up photographs of Methone, revealing a remarkably smooth, but non-spherical moonlet.^[11] The other arc-imbedded moonlets, Pallene and Aegaeon, are thought to be similar.^[12]

Methone's smoothness and excellent ellipsoidal fits suggest that it has developed an equipotential surface, and thus may be composed largely of an icy fluff, a material that might be mobile enough to explain the moonlet's lack of craters. This material property causes Methone to take the shape of a triaxial ellipsoid, a type of ellipsoid in which all 3 of its principal axes are of different lengths. These differences reflect the balance between tidal forces exerted by Saturn and centrifugal forces from the moonlet's own rotation, as well as the moonlet's own force of gravity.^[6]

Methone's longest axis points towards Saturn, and is 1.6x longer than its polar axis. This elongation is caused by tidal forces, whereas the elongation of its intermediate-length axis (1.07x the length of the polar axis) is caused by the centrifugal force of Methone's rotation.^[6]

Methone's low-density regolith may respond to impacts in a way that smooths its surface more rapidly than on rigid moonlets such as Janus or Epimetheus. Movement of the regolith may also be facilitated by more "exotic" processes such as electrostatic effects.^[6]

Methone has two sharply defined albedo regions, with albedos of 0.61±0.06 and 0.7±0.03. The darker of these regions is centered on Methone's leading side, reminiscent of the thermal anomalies on the leading hemispheres of Mimas and Tethys,^[13] and it has been suggested that increased exposure to electrons from Saturn's magnetosphere is responsible. However, in those examples, the thermal anomalies coincide with a distinct UV/IR coloration, which in the case of Methone is either highly subdued or undetectable.^[6] Thus a physical, rather than compositional difference may be responsible. Possibilities include variations in regolith grain size, compaction, or particle microstructure.^[6]

Assuming that Methone is in hydrostatic equilibrium, i.e. that its elongated shape simply reflects the balance between the tidal force exerted by Saturn and Methone's gravity, its density can be estimated: 0.31+0.05
−0.03 g/cm³, among the lowest density values obtained or inferred for a Solar System body.^[6]^[12]

Relationship with Saturn's rings[]

Material blasted off Methone by micrometeoroid impacts is believed to the source of the Methone Ring Arc, a faint partial ring around Saturn co-orbital with Methone that was discovered in September 2006.^[14]^[15]

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Cassini Imaging Team.
^ Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language
^ "JPL (ca. 2008) Cassini Equinox Mission: Methone". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
^ NASA Celestia Archived March 9, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Spitale Jacobson et al. 2006.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Thomas 2013.
^ JPL/NASA: Cassini Uncovers New Moon.
^ IAUC 8389.
^ Porco Baker et al. 2005.
^ IAUC 8471.
^ Lakdawalla, E. 2012.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Battersby, 2013.
^ Schenk Hamilton et al. 2011, pp. 745–46.
^ Porco et al., 2008.
^ Hedman et al., 2009.

Bibliography[]

"Cassini Imaging Science Team". Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
Battersby, S. (2013-05-17). "Saturn's egg moon Methone is made of fluff". www.newscientist.com. New Scientist. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
Green, Daniel W. E. (August 16, 2004). "S/2004 S 1 and S/2004 S 2" (discovery). IAU Circular. 8389. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
Green, Daniel W. E. (January 21, 2005). "S/2004 S 1 and S/2004 S 2" (naming the moon). IAU Circular. 8471. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
Hedman, M. M.; Murray, C. D.; Cooper, N. J.; Tiscareno, M. S.; Beurle, K.; Evans, M. W.; Burns, J. A. (2008-11-25). "Three tenuous rings/arcs for three tiny moons". Icarus. 199 (2): 378–386. Bibcode:2009Icar..199..378H. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2008.11.001. ISSN 0019-1035.
"PIA06105: Cassini Uncovers New Moon". Photojournal. JPL/NASA. August 16, 2004. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
Lakdawalla, E. (2012-05-21). "Methone, an egg in Saturn orbit?". www.planetary.org. The Planetary Society. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
Porco, C. C.; Baker, E.; Barbara, J.; Beurle, K.; Brahic, A.; Burns, J. A.; Charnoz, S.; Cooper, N.; Dawson, D. D.; Del Genio, A. D.; Denk, T.; Dones, L.; Dyudina, U.; Evans, M. W.; Giese, B.; Grazier, K.; Helfenstein, P.; Ingersoll, A. P.; Jacobson, R. A.; Johnson, T. V.; McEwen, A.; Murray, C. D.; Neukum, G.; Owen, W. M.; Perry, J.; Roatsch, T.; Spitale, J.; Squyres, S.; Thomas, P.; Tiscareno, M. (February 25, 2005). "Cassini Imaging Science: Initial Results on Saturn's Rings and Small Satellites". Science. 307 (5713): 1226–1236. Bibcode:2005Sci...307.1226P. doi:10.1126/science.1108056. PMID 15731439.
Schenk, P.; Hamilton, D. P.; Johnson, R. E.; McKinnon, W. B.; Paranicas, C.; Schmidt, J.; Showalter, M. R. (January 2011). "Plasma, plumes and rings: Saturn system dynamics as recorded in global color patterns on its midsize icy satellites". Icarus. 211 (1): 740–757. Bibcode:2011Icar..211..740S. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.08.016.
Carolyn Porco, [http://ciclops.org/team/iss_team.php et al.] (2008-09-05). "More Ring Arcs for Saturn". Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations. Archived from the original on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
Spitale, J. N.; Jacobson, R. A.; Porco, C. C.; Owen, W. M., Jr. (2006). "The orbits of Saturn's small satellites derived from combined historic and Cassini imaging observations". The Astronomical Journal. 132 (2): 692–710. Bibcode:2006AJ....132..692S. doi:10.1086/505206.
Thomas, P. C. (July 2010). "Sizes, shapes, and derived properties of the saturnian satellites after the Cassini nominal mission" (PDF). Icarus. 208 (1): 395–401. Bibcode:2010Icar..208..395T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.01.025.
Thomas, P. C.; Burns, J. A.; Tiscareno, M. S.; Hedman, M. M.; et al. (2013). "Saturn's Mysterious Arc-Embedded Moons: Recycled Fluff?" (PDF). 44th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. p. 1598. Retrieved 2013-05-21.

External links[]

Listen to this article (1 minute)

Menu

0:00

This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 16 January 2010, and does not reflect subsequent edits.

Media related to Methone at Wikimedia Commons
Methone Profile by NASA's Solar System Exploration
IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature

[FOOTNOTECassini_Imaging_Team-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Cassini Imaging Team.

[2] Noah Webster (1884) A Practical Dictionary of the English Language

[3] "JPL (ca. 2008) Cassini Equinox Mission: Methone". Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2020-03-05.

[NASA_Celestia-4] NASA Celestia Archived March 9, 2005, at the Wayback Machine

[FOOTNOTESpitale_Jacobson_et_al.2006-5] Jump up to: ^a ^b Spitale Jacobson et al. 2006.

[FOOTNOTEThomas2013-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Thomas 2013.

[FOOTNOTEJPL/NASA:_Cassini_Uncovers_New_Moon-7] JPL/NASA: Cassini Uncovers New Moon.

[FOOTNOTEIAUC_8389-8] IAUC 8389.

[FOOTNOTEPorco_Baker_et_al._2005-9] Porco Baker et al. 2005.

[FOOTNOTEIAUC_8471-10] IAUC 8471.

[FOOTNOTELakdawalla,_E.2012-11] Lakdawalla, E. 2012.

[FOOTNOTEBattersby,_2013-12] Jump up to: ^a ^b Battersby, 2013.

[FOOTNOTESchenk_Hamilton_et_al.2011745–46-13] Schenk Hamilton et al. 2011, pp. 745–46.

[FOOTNOTEPorco_et_al.,_2008-14] Porco et al., 2008.

[FOOTNOTEHedman_et_al.,_2009-15] Hedman et al., 2009.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[5]

[4]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

hide v t Moons of Saturn
Listed in approximately increasing distance from Saturn as of epoch JD 2459200.5.
Ring shepherds	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus Pandora
Co-orbitals	Epimetheus Janus
G Ring	Aegaeon
Alkyonides	Methone Anthe Pallene
Inner large (with trojans)	Mimas Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces
Outer large	Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus
Inuit group (7)	Kiviuq Ijiraq Paaliaq Saturn LX S/2004 S 31 Tarqeq Siarnaq
Norse group (46)	Phoebe Skathi S/2004 S 37 S/2007 S 2 Skoll Hyrrokkin Greip Mundilfari S/2004 S 13 (?) S/2006 S 1 S/2007 S 3 (?) Suttungr Saturn LIV Jarnsaxa Narvi Bergelmir Hati S/2004 S 17 (?) S/2004 S 12 (?) Saturn LIX Farbauti Thrymr Bestla S/2004 S 7 (?) Aegir Saturn LXI Saturn LV Saturn LVII Saturn LXII Saturn LVI S/2006 S 3 Saturn LXV Kari S/2004 S 28 Loge Saturn LXVI Fenrir Ymir Surtur Saturn LXIII S/2004 S 21 S/2004 S 39 S/2004 S 36 Fornjot Saturn LXIV Saturn LVIII
Gallic group (4)	Albiorix Bebhionn Erriapus Tarvos
Prograde outer satellites	S/2004 S 24
Rings of Saturn Cassini–Huygens Themis Chiron S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 In fiction

show v t Saturn
Outline of Saturn
Geography	Dragon Storm Great White Spot Hexagon Magnetosphere Rings
Moons	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 Pandora Epimetheus Janus Aegaeon Mimas Methone Anthe Pallene Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus Kiviuq Ijiraq Phoebe Paaliaq Skathi S/2004 S 37 Albiorix S/2007 S 2 Saturn LX Bebhionn Erriapus Skoll S/2004 S 31 Siarnaq Tarqeq S/2004 S 13 Greip Hyrrokkin Jarnsaxa Tarvos Mundilfari S/2006 S 1 S/2004 S 17 Bergelmir Narvi Saturn LIV Suttungr Hati S/2004 S 12 Saturn LIX Farbauti Thrymr Saturn LXI Aegir S/2007 S 3 Bestla S/2004 S 7 Saturn LV Saturn LVI Saturn LVII Saturn LXII S/2006 S 3 Saturn LXVI Fenrir S/2004 S 28 Surtur Kari Saturn LXV Ymir S/2004 S 21 S/2004 S 24 Loge S/2004 S 36 S/2004 S 39 Saturn LXIII Saturn LXIV Fornjot Saturn LVIII
Astronomy	Delta Octantis Saturn-crossing minor planets
Exploration	Cassini–Huygens (Huygens) timeline retirement Pioneer 11 Voyager program Voyager 1 Voyager 2
Related	Fiction Moons The Day the Earth Smiled In Saturn's Rings (2018 documentary)

Discovery
Cassini image of Methone's leading side taken on 20 May 2012
Discovered by	Cassini Imaging Team ^[1]
Discovery date	June 1, 2004
Designations
Designation	Saturn XXXII
Pronunciation	/mɛˈθoʊniː/^[2]
Named after	Μεθώνη Methōnē
Adjectives	Methonean /mɛθəˈniːən/^[3]
Orbital characteristics ^[5]
Epoch June 20, 2004 (JD 2453177.5)
Semi-major axis	194440±20 km
Eccentricity	0.0001
Orbital period	1.009573975 d^[4]
Inclination	0.007°±0.003° (to Saturn's equator)
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	Alkyonides
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	(3.88±0.04) × (2.58±0.08) × (2.42±0.04) km^[6]
Mean radius	1.45±0.03 km^[6]
Mean density	0.31+0.05 −0.03 g/cm³^[6]
Rotation period	synchronous
Axial tilt	zero