Methone (me-thoh'-nee) is a natural satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by Cassini imaging scientists led by Carolyn C. Porco, et al. in 2004, and given the temporary designation S/2004 S 1. Methone orbits Saturn at a distance of about 194 Mm (thus its period is 1.007 d) and is about 3 kilometres in diameter. It is also designated as Saturn XXXII.

Like Pallene, it orbits in a fairly regular orbit around Saturn between Mimas and Enceladus. Methone is apparently perturbed by Mimas.

The name Methone was approved by the IAU Working Group on Planetary Science Nomenclature on January 21, 2005. It should be officially approved at the IAU General Assembly in 2006. Methone was one of the Alkyonides, the seven beautiful daughters of the Giant Alkyoneus .

External links

• IAUC 6162
• IAUC 8471 (January 21, 2005)
• C. C. Porco et al., Cassini Imaging Science: Initial Results on Saturn's Rings and Small Satellites [1], Science, Vol. 307, Issue 5713, pp. 1226-1236 (February 25, 2005; subscription required)