Key Information
Saturn – Trojan Moons
| Type | Cooribtal (Trojan) Moons |
| Time around Sun | 29.4571 Earth years |
| List of Moons | Calypso, Dione, Helene, Polydeuces, Telesto and Tethys |
Learning Point
- Saturn has some special moons called Trojan moons. These moons share an orbit with another, larger moon. They don’t crash into each other because they sit at special points, called Lagrangian points, where the gravity of Saturn and the larger moon balance each other out. Think of it like a cosmic traffic circle! Two of Saturn’s Trojan moons, Telesto and Calypso, share an orbit with Tethys, while another pair, Helene and Polydeuces, share an orbit with Dione. They’re like tiny companions, always keeping pace with their larger moon buddies.
Project
- Compile a chart of the orbital details of Calypso, Dione, Helene, Polydeuces, Telesto and Tethys. Identify any interesting details in their orbits.
- Overview
- Lagrange Points
Location
| Located in | Solar System, in orbit around Saturn |
Fun Facts
- They stay in special spots called Lagrangian points, where gravity keeps them in place.
- They always stay ahead or behind their bigger moon buddy as they orbit Saturn.
- Trojan moons are usually much smaller than the moons they travel with.
- Telesto and Calypso travel with Tethys, while Helene and Polydeuces travel with Dione.
Past Lessons
| 128 | March 3, 2025 | (North America) |