Tethys (moon) - Orbit

Orbit

Tethys orbits Saturn at a distance of about 295000 km (about 4.4 Saturn's radii) from the center of the planet. The orbital eccentricity is negligible, while the orbital inclination is about 1 degree. The moon is locked in an inclination resonance with Mimas, which, however, does not cause any noticeable orbital eccentricity and tidal heating.

The Tethyan orbit lies deep inside the magnetosphere of Saturn, so the plasma co-rotating with the planet strikes the trailing hemipshere of the moon. Tethys is also subject to constant bombardment by the energetic particles (electrons and ions) present in the magnetosphere.

The co-orbital moons Telesto and Calypso are located within Tethys's Lagrangian points L4 and L5, 60 degrees ahead and behind Tethys in its orbit respectively.

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