 | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | Pascu, Seidelmann, Baum and Currie |
| Discovery date | March 13, 1980 |
| Designations | |
| Adjective | Calypsonian |
| Semi-major axis | 294,619 km |
| Eccentricity | 0.000 |
| Orbital period | 1.887802 d[1] |
| Inclination | 1.56° (to Saturn's equator) |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 30 × 23 × 14 km[2] |
| Mean radius | 10.7 ± 1.0 km[2] |
| Rotation period | synchronous |
| Axial tilt | zero |
| Albedo | 1.34 ± 0.10 (geometric)[3] |
| | |
Calypso (pronounced /kəˈlɪpsoʊ/ kə-LIP-soh, or as in Greek Καλυψώ) is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Pascu, Seidelmann, Baum and Currie in 1980 from ground-based observations, and was provisionally designated S/1980 S 25.[4] Several other apparitions of it were recorded in the following months: S/1980 S 29, S/1980 S 30,[5] S/1980 S 32,[6] and S/1981 S 2.[7]
In 1983 it was officially named after Calypso of Greek mythology[8]. It is also designated as Saturn XIV or Tethys C.
Calypso is co-orbital with the moon Tethys, and resides in Tethys' trailing Lagrangian point (L5) 60 degrees behind Tethys. This relationship was first identified by Seidelmann et al. in 1981.[9] The moon Telesto also resides in the other (leading) lagrangian point of Tethys, 60 degrees in the other direction from Tethys.
Like many other small Saturnian moons and small asteroids, Calypso is irregularly shaped, has overlapping large craters, and appears to also have loose surface material capable of smoothing the craters' appearance. Its surface is one of the most reflective (at visual wavelengths) in the solar system, with a visual geometric albedo of 1.34.[3] This very high albedo is the result of the sandblasting of particles from Saturn's E-ring, a faint ring composed of small, water-ice particle generated by Enceladus' south polar geysers.
Not to be confused with asteroid 53 Kalypso.
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