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[9.01] The Dynamics of Saturn's Satellites

C. D. Murray (Queen Mary, University of London)

Saturn's satellites display a remarkable range of dynamical phenomena. Mean motion resonances exist between Mimas and Tethys, Enceladus and Dione, and Titan and Hyperion. Tethys and Dione maintain objects in 'tadpole' orbits around their triangular equilibrium points while Janus and Epimetheus exhibit a 'horseshoe' configuration whereby the satellites approach each other every four years but never pass. Prometheus and Pandora are known to be interacting chaotically under the gravitational influence of other major and minor satellites.

The talk will review our knowledge of the dynamics of Saturn's satellites, demonstrating how the masses and even the dynamical histories of the objects can be deduced from their orbits. The arrival of the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn will lead to dramatic improvements in our understanding of these dynamical interactions and the talk will include an overview of how Cassini imaging data will be used in this context.

This work has been funded by the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) and the author is grateful for their financial support.

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #2
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.