Helene


This is an image of Helene.
Image from: NASA
Helene was discovered on February 29, 1980, by Pierre Laques and Raymond Despiau of the Pic du Midi Observatory, France, and J. Lecacheux from the Meudon Observatory, France. Their discovery was made using ground-based observations with a 1-meter telescope of Pic-du-Midi and a Lallemand electronographic camera. Lacques and Lecacheux were part of the team which confirmed the discovery a few months later when photographs of Helene were returned from the Voyager spacecraft.

Helene is the 6th farthest moon from Saturn, with a standoff distance of 377,400 km. Helene is one of the small moons, and is just 18 x 15 km (12 x 10 miles) in size. Its dimensions make Helene about the size of a medium city.

The surface features can just barely be distinguished in this image. Nevertheless, as a small moon, details about the composition and structure of the moon are unknown.

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Helene


This is an image of Helene.
Image from: NASA
Helene was discovered by the French astronomers Pierre Laques, Raymond Despiau and J. Lecacheux on February 29, 1980. Even though Helene is so far away, they were able to make their discovery at an observatory in France using a telescope and electronographic camera. A few months later, P. Laques and J. Lecacheux, along with the other members of the Voyager team, confirmed the discovery of Helene with pictures taken from space.

Helene is the 6th farthest moon from Saturn, with a standoff distance of 377,400 km. Helene is one of the small moons, and is just 18 x 15 km (12 x 10 miles) in size. Its dimensions make Helene about the size of a medium city.

The surface features can just barely be distinguished in this image. Nevertheless, as a small moon, details about the composition and structure of the moon are unknown.

Table of moons

Return to moons


Helene


This is an image of Helene.
Image from: NASA
Helene was discovered on February 29, 1980, by French scientists. Although Helene is very far away, they were able to see this small moon by using a powerful telescope and fancy camera. A few months later, the Voyager spacecraft was able to take pictures of Helene from space.

Helene is the 6th farthest moon from Saturn. Helene is one of the small moons, and is about the size of a medium city.

Table of moons

Return to moons



Last modified January 19, 2001 by the Windows Team

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