Pan (moon)

Pan (moon)

Pan ( /ˈpæn/ PAN, Greek: Πάν) is the innermost moon of Saturn. It is a walnut-shaped small moon about 35 kilometres across and 23 km high that orbits within the Encke Gap in Saturn's A Ring. Pan acts as a ring shepherd and is responsible for keeping the Encke Gap free of ring particles.

It was discovered by Mark R. Showalter in 1990 from analysis of old Voyager 2 probe photos and received the provisional designation S/1981 S 13 because the discovery images dated back to 1981.

Read more about Pan (moon):  Prediction, Orbit, Geography, Pandean Ringlet, Name

Famous quotes containing the word pan:

    I don’t pan out on the prophets
    An’ free-will, an’ that sort of thing—
    But I b’lieve in God an’ the angels,
    Ever sence one night last spring.
    John Milton Hay (1838–1905)