Moon of Saturn
Tethys
Tethys is a moon. It orbits Saturn. It is about 1,062 km across – smaller than our Moon. Tethys is made almost entirely of water ice – it is barely denser than water.
Fact file
- Type
- Moon of Saturn
- Diameter
- 1,062 km
- Distance from Saturn
- 294,670 km
- Orbital period
- 1.9 days
- Temperature
- -187 °C on average
Tethys orbits Saturn.
Interesting facts about Tethys
- Tethys is made almost entirely of water ice – it is barely denser than water.
- The crater Odysseus (445 km) spans almost two-fifths of its diameter.
- The canyon Ithaca Chasma is around 2,000 km long – three-quarters of the way round the moon.
Frequently asked questions about Tethys
How big is Tethys?
Tethys has a diameter of 1,062 km. That is about 31% of the diameter of our Moon.
How far is Tethys from Saturn?
Tethys orbits Saturn at an average distance of 294,670 km.
How long does Tethys take to orbit Saturn?
Tethys orbits Saturn once every 45.4 hours.
How cold or warm is it on Tethys?
On Tethys the average temperature is −187 °C.
Formation
Formed from ice in the disc around Saturn. Ithaca Chasma may have formed when an inner ocean froze, making the crust expand.
Atmosphere
No atmosphere to speak of.
Exploration
Discovered in 1684 by Giovanni Cassini. It shares its orbit with two mini-moons (Telesto and Calypso), which travel ahead of it and behind it.
Compared with Earth
About 30% the size of our Moon.
Other moons of Saturn
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