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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

More Rocks orbiting Saturn...

Astronomers at the University of Hawaii have followed up on many previous moon discoveries with a dozen new satellites at Saturn, bringing the total count to 49 (although the status of three of the new moons identified by Cassini is in doubt). The satellites were discovered on December 12, 2004 using the 8.2-meter (27-foot) Subaru telescope on Mauna Kea. They were confirmed in observations conducted from January through March using Subaru and the 8-meter (26-foot) Gemini North telescope.

Unlike the moons recently discovered by Cassini, which are closely associated with Saturn's ring system, these 12 new moons are "irregular" satellites. They orbit very far from Saturn (around 20 million kilometers or 12 million miles away), and have inclined, elliptical orbits. All but one orbit Saturn in a retrograde fashion, opposite to the direction that Saturn's larger moons and rings travel around the giant planet.

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How interesting that Earthbound scopes discovered these and escaped the unblinking eye of the Hubble and friends.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

New moon in Saturn's Rings...

May 11, 2005 - Cassini has confirmed the discovery of a previously unseen moon tucked in a gap in Saturn's A ring. The moon, provisionally called S/2005 S1 for now, is only 7 km (4 miles) across, and orbits within the Keeler gap.

Even though it's so small, you can clearly see the effect of its gravity on the nearby ring edge, which has distinctive waves along its edge. The is the second moon ever discovered within Saturn's rings. The first, Pan, is 25 km (16 miles) across and orbits within the Encke gap. All the other moons are outside the ring system.

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Shepard Moons are quite facinating. Great stuff.