Pan, the innermost known satellite, was found from photographs taken by Voyager during its encounter with Saturn. It was discovered by Mark R. Showalter in 1990, 9 years after the Voyager encounter. Pan is located 133,583 kilometers from the center of Saturn and is within the Encke Gap of Saturn's A-ring. It acts as a shepherd and is responsible for keeping the Encke gap open. It has a diameter of 20 kilometers.
Views of Pan |
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Pan
This image shows the small moolet Pan located within the Saturn's
Encke gap. The contrast has been enhanced and the image has
been sharpened.
(Copyright © 1998 by Calvin J. Hamilton)
Pan Within Encke Gap
This is the highest resolution image of Pan from the Voyager data.
This image shows the A ring entering Saturn's shadow. Pan is
located in the center of the small box within the Encke gap.
Pan is shown enlarged and enhanced in the inset box.
(Copyright © 1998 by Calvin J. Hamilton)
References |
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Showalter, Mark R., "Visual detection of 1981S13, Saturn's eighteenth satellite, and its role in the Encke gap," Nature, Vol. 351, 27 June 1991, 709-713.
Copyright © 1997 by Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved.