Space Topics: Saturn
Calypso (S/1980 S25)
Running Ahead of Tethys
Saturn's moon Calypso
This is the best view that Cassini will likely ever produce of Calypso.
It was captured on September 23, 2005 from a distance of 101,000 kilometers.
It is shown here magnified by a factor of three. Source:
NASA / JPL / Space Science Institute
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Size: Irregular, 34 x 22 x 22
kilometers
Orbital radius: 294,660 kilometers - 4.89 Saturn radii - within
the E ring - at Tethys’ leading Lagrange point (L4) - co-orbital with
Tethys and Telesto
Orbital period: 1.8878 days - about 1/8 of Titan’s
Discovery: 1980 by Dan Pascu, P. Seidelmann, William Baum,
D. Currie
Calypso is a tiny moon that orbits in Tethys' trailing Lagrange point
(L5). That is, Calypso orbits Saturn on the same circular path that Tethys
does, but behind Tethys, and the centers of Tethys, Saturn, and Calypso
form an equilateral triangle.
Flybys of CALYPSO
 Cassini
September 23, 2005 at 18:51 UTC
“15CA” nontargeted flyby
Closest approach altitude 91,096 kilometers
 Voyager
2
August 25, 1981
Image captured from 197,000 kilometers away
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