Prometheus is a moon of Saturn, part of the Solar System in the universe. Saturn is a planet associated with the Sun, our star, and this space encyclopedia describes the moon’s identity and place in its planetary system.

Prometheus — A natural satellite of Saturn. Its physical properties and orbital motion are shown from the available catalogue and ephemeris data.

No object-specific chemical/elemental dataset has been verified and imported for this record. This does not mean none is publicly available. Appearance may be imagined; chemistry is not.

Discovery and designation
Prometheus was discovered in 1980. JPL credits Voyager Science Team. Its provisional designation is S/1980 S27. The name and discovery entry identify this particular satellite of Saturn; similarly named asteroids are separate objects.

The Voyager 1 science team discovered Prometheus in October 1980.

Prometheus acts as a shepherding moon, constraining the extent of the inner edge of Saturn's F Ring. Prometheus is extremely irregular and has visible craters — some up to 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) in diameter. However, it is much less cratered than its nearby neighbors Pandora, Janus and Epimetheus. The density of Prometheus has been estimated to be low; it is probably a porous, icy body.

The potato-shaped moon is about 26.8 miles (43.1 kilometers) in mean radius, orbiting Saturn at a distance of 87,000 miles (139,000 kilometers), taking 14.7 hours to go around the planet.

Moons of Saturn were originally named for Greco-Roman Titans and descendants of the Titans. But as many new moons were discovered scientists began selecting names from more mythologies, including Gallic, Inuit and Norse stories.

Originally designated S/1980 S27, Prometheus [pro-MEE-thee-us] is named for the son of the Titan Iapetus and brother of Atlas and Epimetheus. He is best known in Greek mythology for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to humanity.