![]() Telesto as seen by the Cassini probe in October 2005
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|
Discovery | |
---|---|
Discovered by | Smith, Reitsema, Larson, Fountain |
Discovery date | April 8, 1980 |
Orbital characteristics | |
294,619 km | |
Eccentricity | 0.000 |
1.887802 d[1] | |
Inclination | 1.19° (to Saturn's equator) |
Satellite of | Saturn |
Physical characteristics | |
Dimensions | 29 × 22 × 20 km³ [2] |
Mean radius
|
11.8 ± 1.0 km[2] |
synchronous | |
zero | |
18.7[3] | |
Telesto (Template:PronEng tə-LES-toe, or as Greek Τελεστώ) is a moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Smith, Reitsema, Larson and Fountain in 1980 from ground-based observations, and was provisionally designated S/1980 S 13.[4] In the following months, several other apparitions were observed: S/1980 S 24[5] S/1980 S 33,[6] and S/1981 S 1.[7]
In 1983 it was officially named after Telesto of Greek mythology.[8] It is also designated as Saturn XIII or Tethys B.
Telesto is co-orbital with Tethys, residing in Tethys' leading Lagrangian point (L4). This relationship was first identified by Seidelmann et al.[9] The moon Calypso also resides in the other (trailing) lagrangian point of Tethys, 60 degrees in the other direction from Tethys.
The Cassini probe performed a distant flyby of Telesto on October 11, 2005. The resulting images show that its surface is surprisingly smooth, devoid of small impact craters.