Moon and Saturn
 A wide slice of Saturn's rings circles the giant planet in this image from the Cassini spacecraft. Only Cassini can see the rings from this angle right now because the rings are turned almost edge-on as seen from Earth. Saturn itself is in the upper left corner of the image. [NASA/JPL/SSI]
The planet also has plenty of bigger moons -- more than 60, and still counting. They have some of the most lyrical names in the solar system: Pandora, Prometheus, Enceladus, Calypso, and many more. The names come from Greek and Roman mythology. Saturn was the leader of the Titans, the giants who preceded the gods of Olympus. Most of Saturn's moons are named for other Titans or their descendants.
Saturn's biggest moon is known as Titan. It's bigger than our own moon, and it's surrounded by a thick, cold atmosphere that's rich in organic compounds. Orange "smog" hides Titan's surface from view. But the Cassini spacecraft has peered through the smog to discover ice volcanoes, giant dunes, and lakes of liquid methane.
Several of Saturn's other moons are related to the rings. Mimas, for example, orbits in the middle of the rings, and sweeps out a dark gap. Other small moons act as "shepherds" -- their gravity keeps the ring particles in line.
Most of Saturn's outer moons are basically big chunks of rock. Many of them may be asteroids that were captured by the planet's powerful gravity -- adopted moons of a giant planet.
Look for Saturn near our own Moon tonight. They're in the west at nightfall. Saturn looks like a bright golden star to the upper right of the Moon.
Script by Damond Benningfield, Copyright 2004, 2009
For more skywatching tips, astronomy news, and much more, read StarDate magazine.
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