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Janus



This is a composite image of the small moons of Saturn
Click on image for full size version (14K JPG)
Image from: NASA
Janus was discovered by A. Dollfus in 1966. Janus is the 5th closest moon to Saturn, with a standoff distance of 151,472 km. Janus is one of the small moons, and is about the size of a county, at 110 x 80 km (75 x 53 miles) wide.

Janus and Epimetheus orbit Saturn together. They are only 50 km (33 miles) apart as they orbit Saturn, which is a little like having two moons in the same city. The fact that they are so close may mean that they are two pieces of what may once have been a single moon.

As a small moon, the composition and surface features of Janus are unknown.

Table of moons

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Last modified January 19, 2001 by the Windows Team

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