Pandora

Saturn · space exploration · moons

Discovered by Voyager 1. Pandora was found in 1980 when the Voyager 1 spacecraft flew past Saturn and took photos of this small moon. Scientists spotted it in the pictures and realized it was a moon they had never seen before.

Oddly shaped rock. Pandora is not round like Earth or our Moon. Instead, it's a lumpy, irregular chunk of rock and ice that orbits Saturn, measuring only about 81 kilometers across at its widest point.

Named after mythology. In 1985, scientists officially named it Pandora after a figure from ancient Greek myths. In the myth, Pandora opened a box that released troubles into the world, but hope remained inside.

Saturn XVII officially. Pandora is officially called Saturn XVII because it's the 17th moon of Saturn that scientists have discovered and catalogued. Saturn has many moons, and each one gets a number.

Shepherd of rings. Pandora orbits near Saturn's rings and may help keep the ring particles in place through its gravity, like a shepherd guiding a flock.