Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Nov 1983
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1983jgr....88.8743t&link_type=abstract
Journal of Geophysical Research (ISSN 0148-0227), vol. 88, Nov. 1, 1983, p. 8743-8754.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
22
Astronomical Photometry, Satellite Imagery, Saturn Satellites, Spaceborne Astronomy, Albedo, Morphology, Planetary Craters, Planetology, Reflectance, Size (Dimensions), Surface Properties
Scientific paper
Voyagers 1 and 2 provided images of sufficient resolution for morphologic and photometric studies of Saturn's small satellites. These objects, all very difficult to observe from earth, orbit Saturn at distances of 2.3 to 6.3 Saturn radii (just outside the A ring to the orbit of Dione) and range in mean diameter from 22 to 188 km. All are irregularly shaped (long/short axis ratios range from 1.4 to 2.0) and probably heavily cratered. While impacts have apparently been important in shaping these objects, observed crater densities suggest that the present forms may have survived for about 4 billion years. Geometric albedos vary from 0.4 to at least 0.8. These albedos and the few color data available are similar to those of larger Saturn satellites which are known to have surfaces made predominantly of water ice. The range of observed albedos could be explained by minor variations in the amount of dark, opaque contaminants.
Davies Matthew
Johnson Torrence V.
Morrison Douglas
Thomas Patrick
Veverka Joe
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