Helene
Saturn XII - 1980S6

Helene was discovered by P. Laques and J. Lecacheus in 1980 through ground based observations. Helene is called a Dione Trojan satellite because it shares the same orbit as Dione at about 60 degrees ahead of its larger companion. Its diameter is about 36 x 32 x 30 kilometers (22 x 20 x 19 miles).

Helene Statistics
Discovered by | P. Laques & J. Lecacheus
Date of discovery | 1980
Mass (kg) | ?
Radius (km) | 18x16x15
Radius (Earth = 1) | 2.8222e-03
Mean density (gm/cm^3) | ?
Mean distance from Saturn (km) | 377,400
Rotational period (days) | ?
Orbital period (days) | 2.7369
Mean orbital velocity (km/sec) | 10.03
Orbital eccentricity | 0.005
Orbital inclination (degrees) | 0.2
Visual geometric albedo | 0.7
Magnitude (Vo) | 18.5

Views of Helene

Helene
This image of Helene was acquired by the Voyager 2 spacecraft on August 25, 1981. (Credit: Calvin J. Hamilton)

Saturn Dione Rhea

Copyright © 1997 by Calvin J. Hamilton. All rights reserved.