Atlas

Discovery
Discovered by	R. Terrile
Discovered in	1980
Orbital characteristics
Mean radius	137,670 km
Perihelion	km
Aphelion	km
Eccentricity	0.000
Orbital period	0.6019 days
Inclination	0.3°
Satellite of	Saturn
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	18.5 × 17.2 × 13.5 km
Surface area	km2
Mass	1016 kg
Mean density	0.63 g/cm3
Surface gravity	m/s2
Escape velocity	km/s
Rotation period	0.6019 days
Axial tilt	0°
Albedo
Surface temperature	min mean max K K K
Atmospheric pressure	0 kPa

Atlas (at'-lus, Greek Άτλας) is a moon of Saturn.

Atlas was discovered by Richard Terrile in 1980 from Voyager photos and was designated 1980 S 28. In 1983 it was officially named after Atlas of Greek mythology, because it "holds the rings on its shoulders" like the Titan Atlas held the sky up above the Earth. It is also designated as Saturn XV.

Atlas seems to be a shepherd satellite of the A ring. Furthermore, in 2004 a faint, thin ring, temporarily designated R/2004 S 1, was discovered in Atlas' orbit.

External links

• The Planetary Society: Atlas