Moon of Saturn
Mimas
Mimas is a moon. It orbits Saturn. It is about 396 km across – about as wide as Switzerland. Its giant crater Herschel (130 km, a third of the moon) makes Mimas look like the “Death Star” from Star Wars.
Fact file
- Type
- Moon of Saturn
- Diameter
- 396 km
- Distance from Saturn
- 185,540 km
- Orbital period
- 0.9 days
- Temperature
- -200 °C on average
Mimas orbits Saturn.
Interesting facts about Mimas
- Its giant crater Herschel (130 km, a third of the moon) makes Mimas look like the “Death Star” from Star Wars.
- Mimas is the smallest known celestial body that its own gravity has pulled into a sphere.
- Its gravity sweeps the Cassini Division clear – the big dark gap in Saturn's rings.
Frequently asked questions about Mimas
How big is Mimas?
Mimas has a diameter of 396 km. That is about 11% of the diameter of our Moon.
How far is Mimas from Saturn?
Mimas orbits Saturn at an average distance of 185,540 km.
How long does Mimas take to orbit Saturn?
Mimas orbits Saturn once every 22.6 hours.
How cold or warm is it on Mimas?
On Mimas the average temperature is −200 °C.
Formation
Formed from ice and a little rock in the disc around Saturn. In 2024, orbital measurements pointed to a surprisingly young ocean beneath the ice – a surprise for this small, dead-looking moon.
Atmosphere
No atmosphere.
Exploration
Discovered in 1789 by William Herschel. Cassini found a heat pattern that looks like the video game character Pac-Man.
Compared with Earth
Around 400 km across – roughly the length of Switzerland from Geneva to St Gallen.
Other moons of Saturn
Test your knowledge of Mimas
Which moon looks like the “Death Star” from Star Wars because of a giant crater?
Mimas. The crater Herschel is 130 km wide – a third of the whole moon.
The full quiz with points and badges is in the 3D model under “Explore”.
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