Moon of Saturn
Phoebe
Phoebe is a moon. It orbits Saturn. It is about 213 km across – about as wide as Switzerland. Phoebe orbits Saturn backwards and far out – probably a captured body from the outer Solar System.
Fact file
- Type
- Moon of Saturn
- Diameter
- 213 km
- Distance from Saturn
- 12,952,000 km
- Orbital period
- 550.3 days
- Temperature
- -198 °C on average
Phoebe orbits Saturn.
Interesting facts about Phoebe
- Phoebe orbits Saturn backwards and far out – probably a captured body from the outer Solar System.
- Dust from Phoebe forms the largest ring in the Solar System: a huge, barely visible ring discovered in the infrared in 2009.
- Discovered in 1899 – the first moon to be found on a photograph rather than through the eyepiece.
Frequently asked questions about Phoebe
How big is Phoebe?
Phoebe has a diameter of 213 km. That is about 6.1% of the diameter of our Moon.
How far is Phoebe from Saturn?
Phoebe orbits Saturn at an average distance of 13 million km.
How long does Phoebe take to orbit Saturn?
Phoebe orbits Saturn once every 550.3 days.
How cold or warm is it on Phoebe?
On Phoebe the average temperature is −198 °C.
Formation
Phoebe is very dark and contains a lot of ice beneath a dark crust – much like Kuiper Belt objects. Its dust darkens the leading side of Iapetus.
Atmosphere
No atmosphere.
Exploration
The Cassini probe's first target: in June 2004 it flew past at a distance of 2,000 km, even before entering orbit around Saturn.
Compared with Earth
Phoebe takes a year and a half to orbit Saturn.
Other moons of Saturn
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