Observations of Saturn's inner satellites and the orbit of Janus in 1980 |
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| Authors: | Audouin Dollfus Serge Brunier |
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| Institution: | Observatoire de Paris, 92190 Meudon, France |
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| Abstract: | Systematic observations of faint satellites were conducted at Pic-du-Midi with a focal coronograph from 1980 March 20 to 24, during which 150 exposures covering 17 hr were obtained; in addition, the 1966 discovery plates of satellites S10 Janus were reexamined together with other 1966 observations. Janus had its greatest eastern elongation on 1966 December 15.720 (±0.003) + light time, at a distance of 2.53Req. It is recognized that some of the observations thought to be 1966 S2 were in fact reobservations of Janus a few days after its discovery. Among the 1980 observations, differences in magnitudes indicate that is satellite 1980 S1 which corresponds to Janus; its greatest eastern elongation was observed on March 23.876 (±0.002) + light time. Subjected to corrections for librations, the mean period over the past 14 years has most probably one of three values: P1 = 0.69458 day, P2 = 06.9448 day or P3 = 0.69438 day. The fainter satellite, S11, which is also 1980 S3, gravitates in an orbit similar to that of Janus and was leading it by +190° in March 1980; this difference of longitude was +224° in December 1966. An object of magnitude 15–16 was seen not detached from the ring; it could be a condensation in the external part of the rings or an additional faint inner satellite. |
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