Mimas
Mimas
Moon of Saturn
Mimas facts
- Orbits
- Saturn
- Distance from Saturn
- 185,540 km (3.2 Saturn-radii)
- Orbital period
- 0.94 days
- Diameter
- 396 km
- Mass
- 3.75 × 10¹⁹ kg
- Orbital inclination
- 1.57°
- Tidally locked
- Yes
- Discovered
- 1789, by William Herschel
Mimas orbits Saturn
Watch Mimas (highlighted) circle Saturn. Press play; the moons run at their real relative speeds.
Relative sizes and spacing are compressed; orbits shown coplanar. Click a moon for its page.
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About Mimas
Mimas is a small icy moon of Saturn best known for the huge Herschel crater on one side, which makes it look uncannily like the Death Star from Star Wars. Despite its frozen, cratered surface, wobbles in its rotation hint that it may hide a young subsurface ocean.
- Named after a Giant of Greek myth
- Discovered: 1789, by William Herschel
Mimas: frequently asked questions
- What is Mimas?
- Mimas is a small icy moon of Saturn best known for the huge Herschel crater on one side, which makes it look uncannily like the Death Star from Star Wars.
- What planet does Mimas orbit?
- Mimas orbits Saturn at an average distance of about 185,540 km, completing one lap every 0.94 days.
- How big is Mimas?
- Mimas has a diameter of about 396 km and a mass of roughly 3.75 × 10¹⁹ kg.
- Why is Mimas famous?
- Mimas's claim to fame: dominated by the enormous Herschel crater, giving it a striking resemblance to the Death Star.
See Mimas in motion
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Data from NASA/JPL and NSSDCA. Source.