Hyperion (moon)
Hyperion in approximately natural color, as photographed by the Cassini spacecraft. Bond-Lassell Dorsum arcs across much of Hyperion's face | |
| Discovery | |
|---|---|
| Discovered by | |
| Discovery date | 16 September 1848 |
| Designations | |
Designation | Saturn VII |
| Pronunciation | /haɪˈpɪəriən/ |
Named after | Ὑπερίων Hyperīon |
| Adjectives | Hyperionian /ˌhɪpəraɪˈoʊniən/ |
| Orbital characteristics | |
| Epoch 2000 January 1.5 | |
| 1,481,500 km (920,600 mi) | |
| Eccentricity | 0.105 |
| 21.276658 d | |
| Inclination | 0.6° (to the Laplace plane) |
| Satellite of | Saturn |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Dimensions | 360.2 km × 266.0 km × 205.4 km (223.8 mi × 165.3 mi × 127.6 mi) |
| 135±4 km | |
| Mass | (5.5510±0.0007)×1018 kg |
Mean density | 0.5386±0.0479 g/cm3 |
| 0.017–0.021 m/s2 (depending on location) | |
| 45–99 m/s (depending on location) | |
| ~13 d (chaotic) | |
| variable | |
| Albedo | 0.3 |
| Temperature | 93 K (−180 C) |
| 14.1 | |
Hyperion /haɪˈpɪəriən/ is the eighth-largest moon of Saturn. It is distinguished by its highly irregular shape, chaotic rotation, low density, and its unusual sponge-like appearance. It was the first non-rounded moon to be discovered.